Surface Modification of Polymeric Materials by Plasma Treatment

Low-temperature plasma treatment has been used in the last years as a useful tool to modify the surface properties of different materials, in special of polymers. In the present work low temperature plasma was used to treat the surface of asymmetric porous substrates of polysulfone (PSf) membranes. The main purpose of this work was to study the influence of the exposure time and the power supplied to argon plasma on the permeability properties of the membranes. Three rf power levels, respectively 5, 10 and 15 W were used. Treatment time ranged from 1 to 50 min. Reduction of single gas permeability was observed with Ar plasma treatments at low energy bombardment (5 W) and short exposure time (20 min). Higher power and/or higher plasma exposition time causes a degradation process begins. The chemical and structural characterization of the membranes before and after the surface modification was done by AFM, SEM and XPS

Avaliação da microfiltração para remoção do lodo gerado no processo oxidativo avançado empregando o reagente de Fenton no tratamento de lixiviado de aterro sanitário Evaluation of microfiltration for removal of sludge generated in advanced oxidation process by Fenton reagent in treatment of landfill leachate

Uma alternativa atrativa para o tratamento de lixiviado de aterro sanitário são os processos oxidativos avançados empregando o reagente de Fenton (POA/Fenton). No entanto, a aplicação do POA/Fenton é limitada pela geração de lodo no processo. Esse lodo possui elevada concentração de ferro, o que torna necessária sua separação do efluente tratado. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a microfiltração para a remoção de lodo gerado no POA/Fenton. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em unidade de bancada. O POA/Fenton apresentou elevada eficiência na remoção de matéria orgânica (75%) e cor real (95%). O processo de microfiltração foi eficiente na separação do lodo gerado, o qual apresentou baixa sedimentabilidade, dificultando sua separação por sedimentação, além de ter contribuído para a remoção de outros poluentes.<br>Advanced oxidation processes using Fenton's reagent (AOP/Fenton) are an attractive alternative for landfill leachate treatment. However, the implementation of the AOP/Fenton is limited by the generation of sludge in the process. The sludge has a high iron concentration, which needs its separation from the treated effluent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microfiltration for sludge removal from an AOP/Fenton. The work was conducted in bench scale. The advanced oxidation process showed high efficiency in removing organic matter (75%) and true color (95%). The microfiltration was effective in separating the sludge, which showed low settling hindering their separation by sedimentation, and has contributed to the removal of other pollutants