MESOCARPO DO COCO BABAÇU (Orbignya speciosa) MODIFICADO COM AMINAS COMO REMOVEDORES DE ÍONS COBRE EM MEIO AQUOSO E EM AGUARDENTE DE CANA-DE-AÇÚCAR.

Abstract

The babassu coconut mesocarp was chemically modified with sodium metaperiodate (MBOA) and subsequently with the following amines: ethylenedianine (MBED), diethylenetriamine (MBDT) and triethylenetetramine (MBTT). The solids were prepared having a granulometry comprised between 0,088 0,177 mm, and they were characterized by vibrational spectroscopy, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray, elemental analysis, pHzpc and they also they were applied to the removal of Cu2+ from aqueous, hydro alcoholic and brandy samples mediums. All the experiments were conducted in batch, under temperature (25 ± 1 °C) and stirrer constant. The adsorbate concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The vibrational and resonance spectral changes in relation to the raw material, as well as the differences in the C, H and N contents, and pHzpc values between unmodified and modified solids were attributed to the surface modification. The lowering in pHzpc values with the modification allowed to enhancement of their adsorption capacity with respect to Cu2+. For both media, the best pH value for the adsorption was 6.0. The times required to achieve equilibrium were 60 min for all materials in aqueous solution, and 30 min for all materials in hydro alcoholic medium. The kinetic process for all studied systems was governed by the pseudo-second order model. The adsorption isotherms fitted better model Langmuir´s for experiments in hydro alcoholic medium. The maximum adsorption capacities (mg g-1) obtained were: aqueous solution, MBOA = 124.62; MBED = 49.71; MBDT = 54.97; MBTT = 56.82; hydro alcoholic medium, MBOA = 131.62; MBED = 125.65; MBDT = 138.0; MBTT = 145.15. The conducted tests on the brandy samples indicated that only 1.0 g L-1 of the adsorbent is enough to reduce the Cu2+ concentration for the label required by the Brazilian legislation.