How acid attack and high temperature affect the microstructure of adsorbent geopolymers
Gabriel André Tochetto,
Lisandro Simão,
Eduardo Pavan Korf,
Débora de Oliveira,
Dachamir Hotza,
Ana Paula Serafini Immich
Affiliations
Gabriel André Tochetto
Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (POSENQ), Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering (EQA), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +55 (54) 99664 0195
Lisandro Simão
Graduate Program in Environmental Technology (PPG-TA), University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP), 14096-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
Eduardo Pavan Korf
Graduate Program in Environmental Science and Technology (PPGCTA), Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul (UFFS), 99700-970, Erechim, RS, Brazil
Débora de Oliveira
Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (POSENQ), Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering (EQA), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
Dachamir Hotza
Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (POSENQ), Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering (EQA), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
Ana Paula Serafini Immich
Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (POSENQ), Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering (EQA), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), 88040-900, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
Geopolymers (GPs) are versatile materials that have low intrinsic porosity. This characteristic can be used as a motivator for the development of porous GPs, since separation processes require adsorbents with a high specific area. Thus, this work aimed to elucidate how acid attack and calcination affect the microstructure of GPs. For this purpose, a GP was exposed to H2SO4 and 200 °C, being later characterized in terms of morphology, mineralogy, functional groups, and textural properties. Acid etching and calcination proved to be effective strategies for surface area improvement, making the modified GP a strong candidate for use as an adsorbent.
