Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, cianobactéria fotoautotrófica, é importante comercialmente devido ao seu valor nutricional (elevado teor de proteínas, lipídios, vitaminas e minerais), além da presença do ácido graxo γ-linolênico e pigmentos, os quais agregam valor a esta biomassa. Este micro-organismo foi cultivado em fotobiorreator tubular, e os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: aplicação de diferentes sistemas de circulação de células, intensidades luminosas, adição simultânea de diferentes proporções de sulfato de amônio e nitrato de sódio como fontes de nitrogênio, adição de dióxido de carbono proveniente de fermentação alcoólica e, finalmente, a aplicação desta biomassa para remoção de metais pesados. Para a avaliação do sistema de circulação de células e da intensidade luminosa foram utilizadas as variáveis dependentes: concentração celular máxima (Xm), produtividade em células (Px), fator de conversão de nitrogênio em células (YX/N), eficiência fotossintética (EF) e teores de proteínas e lipídios da biomassa. Os protocolos de alimentação de nitrogênio e o uso de CO2 proveniente de cilindro ou de fermentação alcoólica foram avaliados com uso das mesmas variáveis já citadas, exceto EF; e, para remoção de Ni2+, Zn2+ e Pb2+ em solução aquosa foram estudados o tempo de adsorção e a influência da concentração inicial de metal em solução; com posterior cálculo da eficiência e capacidade de adsorção, e apresentação de modelos cinéticos e isotermas de equilíbrio. A melhor combinação de resultados em valores médios (Xm = 4055 mg L-1, Px = 406 mg L-1 d-1, YX/N = 5,07 mg mg-1, lipídios totais = 8,94%, proteínas totais = 30,3%, EF = 2,04%) foi obtida nos cultivos realizados com intensidade luminosa = 120 µ mol fótons m-2 s-1. O tipo de sistema de circulação de células utilizado não influenciou estatisticamente quase nenhuma das respostas estudadas e isto indica a possibilidade de substituição do sistema tradicional airlift pelos outros testados neste trabalho. A mistura da menor quantidade de nitrato em relação à de amônio (protocolo I) resultou na melhor combinação de resultados das variáveis dependentes analisadas(Xm = 4,543 g L-1; Px = 0,460 g L-1 d-1; YX/N = 15,6 g g-1; lipídios totais = 8,39% e proteínas totais = 18,7 %). O tipo da fonte de CO2 não exerceu nenhuma influência estatística no crescimento de A. platensis, o que indica a possibilidade do uso do resíduo (CO2) proveniente de fermentação alcoólica nos cultivos desta cianobactéria. A adsorção dos metais pela biomassa seca de A. platensis reduziu à medida que houve aumento da concentração inicial de metal, e a maior eficiência de adsorção foi para o metal Pb2+ (78%). Chlorella quando comparada à Arthrospira foi considerada melhor adsorvente, devido ao maior valor de eficiência de remoção (86,5%). O modelo, cinético de Ho e Mckay e os modelos de equilíbrio de Langmuir e Freundlich se adequaram bem ao processo de adsorção desta célula. / Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, photoautotrophic cyanobacterium, is commercially important due its high nutritional value (high content of proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals), besides of the presence of γ-linolenic fatty acids and pigments, which add value to this biomass. This microorganism was cultivated in tubular photobioreactor and the following parameters were evaluated: application of different cell circulation systems, light intensities, different protocols of simultaneous ammonium sulfate and sodium nitrate feeding, addition of CO2 from ethanol fermentation and, finally, the application of this biomass to the heavy metal removal. The dependent variables [maximum cell concentration (Xm), cell productivity (Px), nitrogen-to-cell conversion factor (YX/N), photosynthetic efficiency (EF) and proteins and lipids contents] were used to evaluate the influence of cell circulation systems and the light intensities. The nitrogen feeding protocols and the use of CO2 from cylinder or ethanol fermentation were evaluated using the same parameters aforementioned, except EF; and to analyze Ni2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ removal, the adsorption time and the influence of initial metal concentration were evaluated with subsequent calculation of the efficiency and capacity adsorption. The kinetic models and equilibrium isotherms were also presented. The best combination of responses\' mean values (Xm = 4055 mg L-1, Px = 406 mg L-1 d-1, YX/N = 5.07 mg mg-1, total lipids = 8.94%, total proteins = 30.3%, EF = 2.04%) was obtained at light intensity = 120 µ mol photons m-2 s-1. The cell circulation system did not exert statistical significant influence on almost all the responses, which suggests that the traditional airlift system could successfully be substituted by the others tested in this work. The mixture of the lower amount of nitrate in relation to ammonium (protocol I) (Xm = 4,543 g L-1; Px = 0,460 g L-1 d-1; YX/N = 15,6 g g-1; total lipids = 8,39% and total proteins = 18,7 %) resulted in the best combination of responses\' mean values. The kind of CO2 source did not exerted any statistical influence on A. platensis growth, which suggests the possibility of using the ethanol fermentation residue (CO2) in the cyanobacterium cultivation. The metal adsorption by A. platensis biomass reduced with increasing initial metal concentration and the adsorption efficiency was higher for metal Pb2+ (78%). Chlorella was considered a better biosorbent when compared to Arthrospira because of the higher values of removal efficiency (86.5%). The kinetic (Ho and McKay) and equilibrium (Langmuir and Freundlich) models are well suited to the adsorption process of this cell.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:42:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TaisaCMD_DISSERT.pdf: 2778077 bytes, checksum: 8a36ea6ad5a2dd95751172ec12102ec7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-10 / Muitos mecanismos provocados pela a??o humana v?m gerando um aumento na queima de combust?veis f?sseis e processos qu?micos (produtos org?nicos, carv?o, madeira, ?leo diesel, gasolina e outros derivados de petr?leo) e, consequentemente, h? um aumento na emiss?o de CO2 na atmosfera. Uma das alternativas para a captura desse poluente ? o processo de adsor??o, o qual pode ajudar na redu??o do CO2. As hidrotalcitas ou hidr?xidos duplos lamelares (HDL s) est?o dentre esses materiais estudados, j? que apresentam alta estabilidade e uma boa porosidade, tornando-se assim um promissor adsorvente de gases poluentes. Os HDL s formam um grupo de argilas do tipo ani?nico que consiste em camadas positivamente carregadas de ?xido de metal (ou hidr?xido de metal) com intercamadas de ?nions. Foi constatado que ?nions que possuem duas cargas negativas, estabilizam muito mais que ?nions monovalentes, sendo o carbonato o mais est?vel dos ?nions divalentes. Neste trabalho, foi proposta uma modifica??o na s?ntese direta atrav?s da co-precipita??o a pH constante utilizando sais de c?tions divalentes (Mg2+) e trivalentes (Al3+) reportados na literatura. Durante a s?ntese dos HDL s retirou-se o carbonato, bem como, utilizou-se um copol?mero como um template para o alargamento das lamelas. As amostras foram caracterizadas utilizando as t?cnicas de DRX, TG/DTG, FTIR, MEV/EDX, MET e adsor??o e dessor??o de N2. Os dados obtidos indicam que a estrutura, mesmo ap?s a modifica??o, apresentou resultados condizentes com os encontrados na literatura. Dentre as v?rias aplica??es dos HDL s foi realizado o estudo da adsor??o do CO2. A capacidade de adsor??o do material foi testada de acordo com o tempo de contato entre o adsorvente e o adsorbato, sendo esperado que os materiais tratados com template apresentassem um maior desempenho

Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, cianobactéria fotoautotrófica, é importante comercialmente devido ao seu valor nutricional (elevado teor de proteínas, lipídios, vitaminas e minerais), além da presença do ácido graxo γ-linolênico e pigmentos, os quais agregam valor a esta biomassa. Este micro-organismo foi cultivado em fotobiorreator tubular, e os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: aplicação de diferentes sistemas de circulação de células, intensidades luminosas, adição simultânea de diferentes proporções de sulfato de amônio e nitrato de sódio como fontes de nitrogênio, adição de dióxido de carbono proveniente de fermentação alcoólica e, finalmente, a aplicação desta biomassa para remoção de metais pesados. Para a avaliação do sistema de circulação de células e da intensidade luminosa foram utilizadas as variáveis dependentes: concentração celular máxima (Xm), produtividade em células (Px), fator de conversão de nitrogênio em células (YX/N), eficiência fotossintética (EF) e teores de proteínas e lipídios da biomassa. Os protocolos de alimentação de nitrogênio e o uso de CO2 proveniente de cilindro ou de fermentação alcoólica foram avaliados com uso das mesmas variáveis já citadas, exceto EF; e, para remoção de Ni2+, Zn2+ e Pb2+ em solução aquosa foram estudados o tempo de adsorção e a influência da concentração inicial de metal em solução; com posterior cálculo da eficiência e capacidade de adsorção, e apresentação de modelos cinéticos e isotermas de equilíbrio. A melhor combinação de resultados em valores médios (Xm = 4055 mg L-1, Px = 406 mg L-1 d-1, YX/N = 5,07 mg mg-1, lipídios totais = 8,94%, proteínas totais = 30,3%, EF = 2,04%) foi obtida nos cultivos realizados com intensidade luminosa = 120 µ mol fótons m-2 s-1. O tipo de sistema de circulação de células utilizado não influenciou estatisticamente quase nenhuma das respostas estudadas e isto indica a possibilidade de substituição do sistema tradicional airlift pelos outros testados neste trabalho. A mistura da menor quantidade de nitrato em relação à de amônio (protocolo I) resultou na melhor combinação de resultados das variáveis dependentes analisadas(Xm = 4,543 g L-1; Px = 0,460 g L-1 d-1; YX/N = 15,6 g g-1; lipídios totais = 8,39% e proteínas totais = 18,7 %). O tipo da fonte de CO2 não exerceu nenhuma influência estatística no crescimento de A. platensis, o que indica a possibilidade do uso do resíduo (CO2) proveniente de fermentação alcoólica nos cultivos desta cianobactéria. A adsorção dos metais pela biomassa seca de A. platensis reduziu à medida que houve aumento da concentração inicial de metal, e a maior eficiência de adsorção foi para o metal Pb2+ (78%). Chlorella quando comparada à Arthrospira foi considerada melhor adsorvente, devido ao maior valor de eficiência de remoção (86,5%). O modelo, cinético de Ho e Mckay e os modelos de equilíbrio de Langmuir e Freundlich se adequaram bem ao processo de adsorção desta célula. / Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis, photoautotrophic cyanobacterium, is commercially important due its high nutritional value (high content of proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals), besides of the presence of γ-linolenic fatty acids and pigments, which add value to this biomass. This microorganism was cultivated in tubular photobioreactor and the following parameters were evaluated: application of different cell circulation systems, light intensities, different protocols of simultaneous ammonium sulfate and sodium nitrate feeding, addition of CO2 from ethanol fermentation and, finally, the application of this biomass to the heavy metal removal. The dependent variables [maximum cell concentration (Xm), cell productivity (Px), nitrogen-to-cell conversion factor (YX/N), photosynthetic efficiency (EF) and proteins and lipids contents] were used to evaluate the influence of cell circulation systems and the light intensities. The nitrogen feeding protocols and the use of CO2 from cylinder or ethanol fermentation were evaluated using the same parameters aforementioned, except EF; and to analyze Ni2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ removal, the adsorption time and the influence of initial metal concentration were evaluated with subsequent calculation of the efficiency and capacity adsorption. The kinetic models and equilibrium isotherms were also presented. The best combination of responses\' mean values (Xm = 4055 mg L-1, Px = 406 mg L-1 d-1, YX/N = 5.07 mg mg-1, total lipids = 8.94%, total proteins = 30.3%, EF = 2.04%) was obtained at light intensity = 120 µ mol photons m-2 s-1. The cell circulation system did not exert statistical significant influence on almost all the responses, which suggests that the traditional airlift system could successfully be substituted by the others tested in this work. The mixture of the lower amount of nitrate in relation to ammonium (protocol I) (Xm = 4,543 g L-1; Px = 0,460 g L-1 d-1; YX/N = 15,6 g g-1; total lipids = 8,39% and total proteins = 18,7 %) resulted in the best combination of responses\' mean values. The kind of CO2 source did not exerted any statistical influence on A. platensis growth, which suggests the possibility of using the ethanol fermentation residue (CO2) in the cyanobacterium cultivation. The metal adsorption by A. platensis biomass reduced with increasing initial metal concentration and the adsorption efficiency was higher for metal Pb2+ (78%). Chlorella was considered a better biosorbent when compared to Arthrospira because of the higher values of removal efficiency (86.5%). The kinetic (Ho and McKay) and equilibrium (Langmuir and Freundlich) models are well suited to the adsorption process of this cell.

Simulated moving bed chromatography process (SMBCP) is the technical realisation of a countercurrent adsorption process through the cyclic port switching. SMB technology reduces the cost of packing material with high loading capacity and provides high purity and high recovery in a very short time. Major commodity applications have been found in the petroleum, food, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. The industrial applications bring an emergent demand to improve the SMBCP operation for higher product quality, productivity, efficiency and robustness. However, for this particular process, we encounter several challenges. Firstly, the interplay of the effects of strong nonlinearities, competition of solutes, mass transfer resistance and fluid dynamic dispersion produces steep concentration fronts. Mathematical model accounted for this particular property constitutes a serious difficulty for the solution procedure. Secondly, a dynamic SMB model consists of a set of partial differential, ordinary differential and algebraic equations, which are highly coupled. The large size is a problem due to its intensive computation when on-line optimisation and real-time control are necessary. Thirdly, the SMB unit operation exhibits complex dynamics. Process metrics for design and operation can be determined only when a cyclic steady state is reached after a certain number of switching. Achieving this steady state by solving the PDE models cycle after cycle involves expensive calculation. Studies have been carried out to solve these problems through process analysis, investigation on spatial discretisation techniques, and development of an accelerated integration scheme. / Through a systematic study on the advances of SMB modelling, design and control, a set of functionally equivalent models for SMBCP are identified and summarized for their practical applications. The limitations of the existing modelling techniques in industrial applications are also identified. Furthermore, structural analysis of the existing models is conducted for a better understanding of the functionality and suitability of each model. Suggestions are given on how to choose an appropriate model with sufficient accuracy while keeping the computational demand reasonably low for real time control. / Effort is made on to the systematic investigation of different numerical methods for the solution of PDEs to circumvent the steep gradients encountered in chromatographic separation. Comprehensive studies are conducted on a single column chromatographic process represented by a transport-dispersive-equilibrium linear model. Numerical solutions from the upwind-1 finite difference, wavelet-collocation, and high resolution methods are evaluated by quantitative comparisons with the analytical solution for a range of Peclet numbers. It reveals that for a PDE system with a low Peclet number, all existing numerical methods work well, but the upwind finite difference method consumes the most time for the same degree of accuracy of the numerical solution. The high resolution method provides an accurate numerical solution for a PDE system with a medium Peclet number. The wavelet collocation method is capable of catching up steep changes in the solution, and thus can be used for solving PDE models with high singularity. / The advantages and disadvantages of the wavelet based approaches are further investigated through several case studies on real SMBCP system. A glucose-fructose separation process is firstly chosen with its relatively simple isotherm representations. Simulations are conducted using both wavelet collocation and upwind finite difference methods. For more complicated applications, an enantiomers separation process is selected. As the PDEs model exhibit a certain degree of singularity, wavelet collocation and high resolution methods are adopted for spatial discretisation. It is revealed that both the wavelet based approaches and high resolution methods are good candidates in terms of computation demand and prediction accuracy on the steep front. This is the first time that these two frontier numerical methods are used for such a complex SMB system models and our results are encouraging for the development of model-based online control scheme. / In developing a new scheme to rapidly obtain the solution at steady state for any arbitrary initial condition, the concept of Quasi-Envelope (QE) is adopted under the consideration that a SMBCP can be treated as a pseudo-oscillatory process because of a large number of continuous switching. The scheme allows larger steps to be taken to predict the slow change of starting state within each switching. Combined with previously developed wavelet-based technique, this method is successfully applied to the simulation of a SMB sugar separation process. Investigations are also carried out on the location of proper starting point for the algorithm and on the effect of changing stepsize to the convergence of iteration method. It is found that if the starting state of Quasi-Envelope is chosen to be the same as the original function, the multivalue algorithm would require similar computational effort to achieve the steady state prediction, regardless of the integration stepsize. If using constant stepsize, launching QE later is helpful when quasi-envelope displays steep change at the start-up period. A changing stepsize produces slow convergence compared to the constant stepsize strategy, thus increasing the work load where the stepsize change is occurring. Other iteration method is required to be imposed to achieve faster convergence right from the beginning. Potential applications can be seen for other chemical engineering processes with inherent cyclic behaviour.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-03-19T16:27:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 THIANNE SILVA BATISTA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEQ 2016..pdf: 2177027 bytes, checksum: 65931e0e786c26d61bb005c1fd18e0f7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-19T16:27:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 THIANNE SILVA BATISTA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEQ 2016..pdf: 2177027 bytes, checksum: 65931e0e786c26d61bb005c1fd18e0f7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-25 / Capes / O processo de separação por adsorção destaca-se como uma alternativa para minimizar os problemas de contaminação em recursos hídricos e revela uma abrangente aplicabilidade, devido principalmente à utilização de argilas como adsorventes. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a capacidade de adsorção da argila atapulgita in natura e modificada com o sal quaternário de amônio, como adsorvente de efluentes oleosos sintéticos. Foram realizados planejamentos experimentais fatoriais 22, em que, tiveram como variáveis independentes, a concentração inicial do óleo presente no efluente e tempo de agitação do processo, e como variável resposta o percentual de remoção de óleo. Em seguida, o ensaio de remoção foi avaliado realizando um estudo de viabilidade do processo de adsorção, com a obtenção do mecanismo de adsorção por meio da cinética, como também, com a definição do modelo que descreve o processo de adsorção através da isoterma. Diante as caracterizações realizadas na argila atapulgita foi possível identificar com a Difratometria de raios X (DRX) que sua estrutura não favorece a um deslocamento na intensidade dos picos após o processo de organofilização, porém, com a Espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR) fica evidenciada a presença dos grupos orgânicos comprovando, assim, a inserção do sal na estrutura da atapulgita; com a Microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) observou-se uma morfologia fibrosa da argila e a Fisissorção de N2 (Método de BET) indicou a presença de estrutura mesoporosa da atapulgita in natura e macroporosa da argila organofílica. Os ensaios de adsorção demonstrou que o processo de organofilização aplicada à atapulgita favoreceu o processo de adsorção, pois desempenhou 67,57% de remoção de óleo e uma capacidade de adsorção de 7,23 mg de óleo por grama de argila, na concentração inicial de 100 mg.L-1 de óleo e no tempo de agitação de 1 hora. Com a aplicação dos modelos teóricos observou-se um coeficiente de determinação R² = 0,98, indicando uma forte correlação da equação de segunda ordem na cinética de adsorção. Para isoterma de adsorção, verificou-se que a equação de Freundlich, Langmuir e da Sigmoide BiDR, ajustaram-se aos dados experimentais. / The process of adsorptive separation stands out as an alternative to minimize contamination problems in water and shows a broad applicability, mainly due to the use of clays as adsorbent. This study aimed to evaluate the adsorption capacity of natural and modified attapulgite clay, using this material as an adsorbent of synthetic oily wastewater. 22 factorial experimental designs were conducted, wherein, the initial concentration of oil present in the effluent and the stirring time were independent variables and the response variable was the oil removal percentage. Then, the removing test was evaluated by performing a feasibility study of the adsorption process, obtaining the adsorption mechanism through kinetics, as well as with the definition of the model which best describes the experimental data through the adsorption isotherm. From the characterizations performed with the attapulgite clay, it was identified with x-ray diffraction (XRD) that its structure does not favor a shift in the intensity of the peaks after the organophilization process, however, the spectroscopy in the infrared (FTIR) demonstrated the presence of the organic groups confirming the insertion of the salt in the attapulgite structure; furthermore, through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was observed a fibrous morphology of the clay and N2 physisorption (BET method) indicated the presence of mesoporous structure of natural attapulgite and macroporous of organoclay. Adsorption tests showed that the organophilization applied to attapulgite favored the adsorption process because a 67.57% removal of oil and an adsorption capacity of 7.23 mg of oil per gram of clay were obtained, with the initial concentration of 100 mg.L-1 oil and a stirring time of 1 hour. With the application of theoretical models, a coefficient of determination of R² = 0.98 was reached, indicating a strong correlation of the second-order equation in the adsorption kinetics. For adsorption isotherm, it was found that Freundlich, Langmuir and Sigmoid BIDR equations fitted the experimental data.

Silicon was selectively removed from a silicon carbonitride (SiCN) aerogel by hot chlorine gas treatment, leading to a N-doped carbon aerogel (N-CDC aerogel). The combined effects of pyrolysis and etching temperature were studied with regard to the change in the composition of the material after etching as well as the microstructure of the produced hierarchically porous material. Upon removal of Si from amorphous SiCN, carbon and nitrogen, which are not bonded together in the starting material, react, creating new C–N bonds. The removal of silicon also gives rise to a high amount of micropores and hence a high specific surface area, which can be beneficial for the functionality of the carbonaceous material produced. The mesoporous structure of the aerogel allows us to complete the etching at low temperature, which was found to be a crucial parameter to maintain a high amount of nitrogen in the material. The combination of a high amount of micropores and the mesopore transport system is beneficial for adsorption processes due to the combination of a high amount of adsorption sites and effective transport properties of the material. The N-CDC aerogels were characterized by nitrogen physisorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetry (TG/DTA), and infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT) and they were evaluated as CO2 absorbers and as electrodes for electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs).

Silicon was selectively removed from a silicon carbonitride (SiCN) aerogel by hot chlorine gas treatment, leading to a N-doped carbon aerogel (N-CDC aerogel). The combined effects of pyrolysis and etching temperature were studied with regard to the change in the composition of the material after etching as well as the microstructure of the produced hierarchically porous material. Upon removal of Si from amorphous SiCN, carbon and nitrogen, which are not bonded together in the starting material, react, creating new C–N bonds. The removal of silicon also gives rise to a high amount of micropores and hence a high specific surface area, which can be beneficial for the functionality of the carbonaceous material produced. The mesoporous structure of the aerogel allows us to complete the etching at low temperature, which was found to be a crucial parameter to maintain a high amount of nitrogen in the material. The combination of a high amount of micropores and the mesopore transport system is beneficial for adsorption processes due to the combination of a high amount of adsorption sites and effective transport properties of the material. The N-CDC aerogels were characterized by nitrogen physisorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetry (TG/DTA), and infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT) and they were evaluated as CO2 absorbers and as electrodes for electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs).

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-09-03T17:30:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MORGANA FABÍOLA CUNHA SILVA CANUTO - TESE PPGEP 2012..pdf: 1607652 bytes, checksum: 0c3a5a7e86e448696445e64563fdd07d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-03T17:30:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MORGANA FABÍOLA CUNHA SILVA CANUTO - TESE PPGEP 2012..pdf: 1607652 bytes, checksum: 0c3a5a7e86e448696445e64563fdd07d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10 / CNPq / A degradação dos ambientes aquáticos por metais pesados está relacionado ao aumento desenfreado do setor industrial. A biossorção é uma alternativa eficiente e de baixo custo para o tratamento dos efluentes contaminados por metais pesados que são lançados no meio ambiente por parte das indústrias, Uma alternativa para a remoção de metais pesados presentes em efluentes líquidos é o processo de adsorção em colunas de leito fixo utilizando a levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae imobilizada com quitosana. Experimentos da cinética de biossorção foram realizados em tanque agitado utilizando os bioadsorventes, esferas de quitosana, levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae livre e imobilizada com quitosana para remoção do íon Cd2+, enquanto que os experimentos do equilíbrio de adsorção e em coluna de leito fixo, realizados com a levedura imobilizada. Os modelos pseudo-segunda ordem e o de Michaelis Menten apresentaram um bom ajuste aos dados experimentais, enquanto para o estudo do equilíbrio o modelo de Langmuir foi o que melhor representou a isoterma de adsorção. As curvas de ruptura obtidas para concentrações do íon Cd2+ de até 20 mg.L-1 demonstraram que o leito estava longe de atingir a saturação, porém ao ampliar a faixa de concentração 40 – 90 mg.L-1, o leito ficou mais próximo da saturação, sendo verificado a viabilidade de se utilizar este bioadsorvente para o tratamento de efluentes que contenham Cd2+. A técnica de planejamento experimental foi utilizada para avaliar os efeitos das variáveis concentração do efluente sintético e vazão de operação sobre a quantidade adsorvida de Cd2+ e o percentual de remoção. O efeito da vazão de operação é o fator mais significativo seguido da concentração do íon Cd2+, para a variável resposta quantidade adsorvida de Cd2+, enquanto apenas a variável vazão de operação foi estatisticamente significativa sobre o percentual de remoção. Os modelos matemáticos, da Força Impulsora Linear e o de Thomas, descreveram satisfatoriamente o comportamento das curvas de ruptura. / The degration of aquatic ecosystems caused by metallic ions is related to the unbridled increase in industrial sector. Biosorption is an efficient and low cost alternative for the treatment of effluents contaminated by metallic ions, which are thrown by industries into the environment. An alternative in order to remove these ions into the liquid effluents is a process of biosorption in fixed bed columns using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast immobilized with Chitosan. Biosorption's kinetics experiments were conducted in agitated tanks using bioadsorbing, chitosan's spheres, free Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and immobilized with chitosan to remove Cd2+ ion, whereas the equilibrium experiments of biosorption and in a fixed bed column, were conducted with immobilized yeast. Both pseudo-second order and Michaelis Menten models prevented a good adjustment to the experimental data, whereas to the equilibrium study, Langmuir's model was the one which better represented the adsorption's isotherm. The rupture curves got by Cd2+ ion concentration of up to 20 mg.L-1 show that the bed was far from reaching saturation. Nevertheless, by extanding the concentrations of 40-90 mg.L-1, the bed got closer to saturation and being checked the viability of using this bioadsorvent to treating effluents which contains Cd2+. The experimental planning techinique was used to evaluate the effects of concentration variables from the sinthetic aqueous solution of Cd2+ in the entry of the bed and flow of operation over a quantity adsorbed and the removal percentage. The flow operation effect was the most significant factor being followed by the concentration for the response variable amount absorbed, whereas only the flow variable from operation was statiscally significant about removal percentage. Mathematical models of Linear Driving Force and Thomas' satisfactorily described the breakthrough curves behavior.