Orientador: Prof. Dr. Fabio Leandro de Souza / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nanociências e Materiais Avançados, 2017. / Esta tese de doutorado é divida em três partes, (i) definição dos parâmetros de síntese de fotoanodos de óxidos de ferro na fase hematita; modificação dos filmes de hematita com (ii) Sn e (iii) W. (i) Na primeira parte do trabalho foram sintetizados filmes de hematita de 2 a 24 horas, tendo sua fase confirmada por difração de raios x após o tratamento térmico a 750 ºC. Alem disso, os filmes após o tratamento térmico as 750 °C apresentaram a orientação preferencial no plano de maior condutividade da hematita, o plano (110). Todos os filmes exibiram uma boa estabilidade eletroquímica, sendo o filme de 2 horas o de maior fotocorrente. (ii) Na segunda os fotoanodos de hematita tiveram sua superfície modificada com solução contendo Sn4+. A modificação com Sn4+ aumentou a fotocorrente de todos os fotoanodos de hematitas quando comparados com os puros, mantendo a melhor fotocorrente nos filmes de 2 horas. A melhoria na fotocorrente pela adição de Sn4+ foi atribuída a maior área superficial decorrente da superfície mais hidrofílica, favorecendo a reação química na interface sólido/líquido e provavelmente reduzindo pontos de recombinação. No entanto, resultados ainda superiores poderiam ser alcançados se o Sn4+ atuasse como dopante, ao invés de ter formando uma fase adicional identificada pela análise MET/EDX. Esses resultados abrem caminho para novas perspectivas para explicar o efeito da adição de Sn4+ como uma sobre camada na superfície de eletrodos de hematita. (iii) Na terceira parte foi adicionado pela primeira vez W6+ diretamente na síntese dos filmes de hematita tratados a 550 ou 750 ºC. A modificação com W6+ aumentou a fotocorrente e mantendo-se a mesmas estáveis em ambas as temperaturas de tratamento térmico. Por outro lado, a adição de W6+ fez com que os nanobastões perdem-se o leu alinhamento perpendicular ao substrato e a orientação preferencial no plano (110). Os resultados de XPS mostraram a presença de W6+, possível somente na forma de óxido, sugerindo que o tungstênio tenha segregado de forma a estabilizar na superfície da hematita. A segregação na superfície também corrobora com as medidas eletroquímicas, a densidade de carga (ND) praticamente inalterada e a melhora no desempenho catalítico evidenciado pelas medidas fotoeletroquímica com H2O2. / This doctoral thesis is divided into three parts, (i) synthesis parameters definition of iron oxide photoanodes in hematite phase and modification of the hematite with (ii) Sn and (iii) W. (i) In the first part, hematite photoanodes were synthesized from 2 to 24 hours, this phase was confirmed by x-ray diffraction after annealing at 750 ° C. In addition, the photoanodes showed a preferred orientation in the hematite higher conductivity plane, (110), after annealing at 750 ° C. All photoanodes were electrochemical stable, with the 2 hour photoanode having the highest photocurrent. (ii) In the second part, the hematite photoanodes had their surface modified with Sn4+ containing the solution. The Sn modification increased the photocurrent of all hematite photoanodes when compared to the pure ones, maintaining the 2 hours photoanode as the best photocurrent. The Sn4+ photocurrent improvement was attributed to the larger surface area resulting from the more hydrophilic surface (high water affinity), favoring the chemical reaction at the solid/liquid interface and probably reducing recombination sites. However, even higher results could be achieved if the Sn4+ can act as a dopant, rather than forming an additional phase identified by the TEM / EDX analysis. These results pave the way for new perspectives to explain the effect of Sn4+ addiction as an overlayer on the hematite electrodes surface. (iii) In the third part, W6+ was first added directly during the hematite synthesis by the first time and annealed at 550 or 750 ºC. The W modification increased the photocurrent keeping it stable at both annealing temperatures. On the other hand, the W6+ addition made the nanorods lose their substrate perpendicular alignment and the (110) plane preferential orientation. The XPS results confirmed the W6+ presence, possible only in the oxide form, suggesting that the tungsten has segregated in order to stabilize on the hematite surface. Surface segregation also corroborates with electrochemical measurements, the almost unchanged charge density (ND) values and its catalytic performance improvement shown on the electrochemical measurements with H2O2.

Cette étude s’inscrit dans le cadre de la dépollution de l’eau, elle a eu pour but d’examiner la dégradation photocatalytique d’herbicides phénylurées en solution aqueuse à pH acide, en présence d’un oxyde de fer naturel et d’acides carboxyliques. L’oxyde de fer naturel a été caractérisé par spectroscopie Raman, l’identification des produits de dégradation du fénuron et la proposition d’un mécanisme de dégradation ont été réalisées. Deux types d’irradiation ont été utilisés, i.e. l’irradiation solaire naturelle et l’irradiation par des UV générés par des lampes à vapeur de mercure. La photodégradation du fenuron en présence d’oxyde de fer naturel et l'acide oxalique obéit à une loi du premier ordre, les conditions expérimentales optimales pour ce système étaient [acide oxalique]0 = 10-3 M, [Hématite naturelle] = 0.1 g L-1 ; pH = 3. Le temps de demi-vie du fenuron est court (60 32 min) mais les résultats sont meilleurs sous irradiation solaire naturelle (30 15 min). L'acide oxalique est l’acide carboxylique le plus efficace en photodégradation du fénuron (disparition totale), l’ordre d’efficacité varie ainsi : acide oxalique > acide citrique > acide tartrique > acide malique. L’étude analytique de la dégradation du fénuron par ce procédé a permis l’identification de huit photoproduits aromatiques, de trois acides carboxyliques à courte chaîne de carbone et des ions inorganiques. Ce travail a permis de mettre en évidence le rôle de l’oxygène dissous dans le processus de dégradation du fenuron par le procédé de photo-Fenton-like, le processus ne peut pas avoir lieu en milieu désoxygéné car aucune production de H2O2 n’a été observée sous irradiation UV. L’oxygénation du milieu permet d’améliorer la capacité oxydative du procédé et d’augmenter le taux de minéralisation du carbone organique totale. En effet l’oxygénation du milieu augmente indirectement la production des radicaux hydroxyles par augmentation de la production de H2O2. Il a été mis en évidence pendant l’étude quantitative que l’oxygène était le réactif le plus consommé par ce procédé. Le traitement de la solution contenant 10-4 M de fenuron et 10-3 M d’oxalate a permis de réduire significativement la toxicité de la solution initiale après 360 minutes d’irradiation. / The photodegradation of the herbicide phenylurea by using a natural iron oxide (NIO) α-Fe2O3 in aqueous solution at acidic pH has been undertaken. The NIO was characterized by the Raman spectroscopy method. The degradation pathways and the formation of by-products were studied. A high-pressure mercury lamp and sunlight were employed as light source. Fenuron photodegradation using NIO with oxalic acid followed the pseudo-first order kinetics, the optimal experimental conditions were [oxalic acid]0 = 10−3 M and [NIO] = 0.1 g L−1 at pH 3. NIO/oxalic acid/UV system led to a low fenuron half-life (32 min). The results were even better when solar light is used (15 min). The effect of four carboxylic acids; oxalic, citric, tartaric and malic acids on the degradation efficiency was studied. Oxalic acid was the most effective carboxylic acid used on the fenuron photodegradation with NIO at pH 3. The analytical study showed many aromatic intermediates, short-chain carboxylic acids and inorganic ion.The role of dissolved oxygen (DO) in degradation and mineralization of fenuron in the photo-Fenton-like system by using the NIO was also studied; the NIO was used as an iron source. The DO effect has been elucidated by carrying out experiments with and without oxygen, it has been found that the degradation and mineralization rate were strongly affected by change in DO concentration. In absence of oxygen, there is no photo-Fenton-like because of the lack of hydrogen peroxide, the degradation was caused only by the photo-reduction of Fe(III) complex in this case. Oxygenation improved the hydrogen peroxide production under irradiation. The mass balance of the reactive species showed that dissolved oxygen was the main reactive consumed during the process. The toxicity decrease with irradiation time proves that the intermediates generated during photo-oxidation by the photo-Fenton-like system by using a NIO are less toxic than fenuron.

Submitted by ROMÁRIO PIMENTA GOMES null (rpgagronomia@gmail.com) on 2017-09-26T18:24:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Romário_Pimenta_Gomes.pdf: 4952587 bytes, checksum: 38b374e1aebb3432a8e755c6e9f28a77 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Monique Sasaki (sayumi_sasaki@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-28T13:04:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 gomes_rp_me_jabo.pdf: 4952587 bytes, checksum: 38b374e1aebb3432a8e755c6e9f28a77 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-28T13:04:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gomes_rp_me_jabo.pdf: 4952587 bytes, checksum: 38b374e1aebb3432a8e755c6e9f28a77 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Nos solos tropicais, o fenômeno de adsorção de fósforo é regido pela mineralogia da fração argila, que, por sua vez, é afetada pelo material de origem e intensidade de dissecação da paisagem. Desse modo, objetivou-se relacionar o fósforo total e adsorvido com principais minerais da fração argila dos solos do Planalto Ocidental Paulista, São Paulo, associando com a geologia e o grau de dissecação da paisagem. Foram selecionadas cinquenta e cinco amostras de solo representativas da variabilidade fisiográfica do Planalto Ocidental Paulista, na profundidade de 0,0 – 0,2 m, para a caracterização das formas de fósforo, mineralogia da argila por difração de raios-x (DRX) e espectroscopia de reflectância difusa (ERD); utilizou-se também calibração quimiométrica através da regressão de mínimos quadrados parciais (PLSR). Verificou-se que o P total e o P adsorvido são influenciados pela geologia e grau de dissecação da paisagem, e são covariativos dos óxidos de Fe e Al, sendo esses óxidos importantes indicadores de ambientes com maiores e menores potenciais de adsorção e com baixos e altos teores de P. A caracterização das curvas espectrais permite diferenciar o conteúdo de P total com base na mineralogia da fração argila. A análise por regressão de mínimos quadrados parciais (PLSR) dos dados espectrais evidencia a influência dos óxidos de ferro no conteúdo de P total e adsorvido, sendo a Hm ao P total e a Gt ao P adsorvido. / In tropical soils, the phenomenon of phosphorus adsorption is governed by the mineralogy of the clay fraction, which in turn is affected by the material of origin and intensity of dissection of the landscape. the objective was to relate the total phosphorus and adsorbed with the main minerals of the clay fraction of the soils of the Planalto Ocidental Paulista, associating with the geology and the degree of dissection of the landscape. Were selected fifty - five soil samples representative of the physiographic variability of the Planalto Ocidental Paulista, in the depth of 0.0 - 0.2 m, for the characterization of phosphorus forms, clay mineralogy by X - ray diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS); it was also used chemometric calibration Through the partial least squares regression (PLSR). It was verified that the total P and adsorbed P are influenced by the geology and degree of dissection of the landscape, and are covariate of the Fe and Al oxides, and these oxides are important indicators of environments with higher and lower adsorption potentials and with low and high levels of P. The characterization of the spectral curves allows to differentiate the total P content based on the mineralogy of the clay fraction. Partial least squares regression analysis (PLSR) of the spectral data shows the influence of iron oxides on the total and adsorbed P content, with Hm at the total P and Gt at the adsorbed P.

O caulim do Rio Capim na Amazônia Oriental se constitui num depósito importante para o Brasil, ocupando lugar de destaque na produção mundial desta matéria prima mineral. Os modelos estabelecem uma origem para a caulinita vinculada ao intemperismo em condições lateríticas (Paleogeno Inferior) a partir de um substrato formado por rochas sedimentares da Formação Ipixuna (Cretáceo Superior). No perfil, destacam-se em ordem de importância entre os compostos de ferro, a hematita e a goethita, minerais pouco estudados no caulim do Rio Capim. A partir dos fácies principais do caulim (fácies caulim macio na base e caulim duro no topo), foram separados e concentrados os minerais de interesse para estudos de detalhe, utilizando a difratometria de raios X (DRX) e a espectrometria de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR). Entre os parâmetros determinados, obtiveram-se estimativas da dimensão, forma, área superficial e substituição isomórfica. A interpretação dos resultados evidencia o potencial de aplicação das informações na estimativa do comportamento destes minerais durante o processo de beneficiamento e para a discussão do modelo genético dos perfis de caulim. As goethitas e hematitas de ambos os fácies possuem propriedades muito semelhantes, reforçando o modelo que especula sobre uma origem comum para a fácies caulim macio e caulim duro do perfil. Entre as propriedades, destacam-se a elevada cristalinidade e a baixa participação do alumínio em sua composição, proporcionando a estes minerais um comportamento com resistência moderada a elevada nos processos de lixiviação ácida e a tendência de dissolução preferencial da hematita. O conjunto de características dos óxidos e oxihidróxidos de ferro são compatíveis com uma formação em ambientes hidromórficos, com baixa influência da matéria orgânica a partir de soluções com baixa atividade do ferro, moderadamente redutoras a fracamente ácidas. Dentro do modelo genético da formação do caulim, sua origem não está associada à zona de laterização do perfil, sendo compatível com um ambiente saprolítico e hidromórfico. As propriedades observadas permitem afirmar que os processos naturais que favoreceram a formação da caulinita na base do manto de alteração foram suficientemente longos e intensos para promover a retirada do ferro destas fácies num processo não dissociado no tempo. No modelo, o caulim é uma fácies da base do perfil formado abaixo do nível freático de um espesso perfil laterítico em condições moderadamente redutoras e ácidas com elevada atividade do Si e do Al, porém, com carência de Al disponível para a formação da hematita e da goethita. Neste ambiente, haveria uma lenta mobilização do Fe dentro do perfil sem a necessidade do estabelecimento de um evento excepcional com uma elevada atividade da matéria orgânica, como previsto em alguns modelos. / The Rio Capim Kaolin from the eastern Amazon is recognized as one of the largest deposits of Brazil with a quality and volume that place this area amongst the most important deposits in the world. Despite the importance and the significant amount of studies about kaolin, many questions remain unanswered and the genesis of this occurrence is not well understood. Perhaps, the consensus today is the acceptance of the Rio Capim kaolin origin to be related to a lateritic weathering process during the Early Paleogene, period with favorable geotectonic, duration and climatic conditions to originate a thick cover with the development of a complete weathering profile above a substrate composed by sedimentary rocks of the Ipixuna Formation (Cretaceous). The models consider kaolin to be a bottom facies of a thick lateritic profile, but nowadays the upper lateritic facies was destroyed (probably by erosion periods along the middle to upper Paleogene). The kaolin profile has two facies: the bottom one, which is called soft kaolin, and the upper, differentiated one forming the flint kaolin. Most controversial points are related to the way that the flint kaolin was formed and the mechanism in which the iron was mobilized from the kaolin profile as a whole. This study aims to get some insight about the Rio Capim kaolin development using some properties measured from the iron oxides and oxyhydroxides. The iron and titanium minerals from the kaolin represent the most important contaminants, and a large effort is made by the industry to eliminate their influence but, despite this negative reputation, those minerals also represent a source of valuable information about the environmental conditions of the profile. Among them, hematite is the most widespread in the entire kaolin profile, followed by goethite, whose importance increases in the direction of the flint kaolin facies. Representative samples of kaolin facies were selected from the kaolin profile and submitted to an approach that allowed concentrating the iron minerals and eliminating the influence of kaolinite. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), a set of properties of the hematite and goethite were determined, including median crystal dimensions, shapes, specific surface area and mineral composition by estimating the isomorphous replacement of iron (Fe) by aluminum (Al). The results show that hematites and goethites do not have enough differences in their properties to support a genesis model with radical changes in their conditions . In terms of behavior to acid leaching, the observed variations were important to predict differences in the rate of mineral dissolution and possibilities of preferential dissolution of hematite in relation to goethite, promoting the increase of the yellow component with the leaching. Both hematite and goethite have high crystallinity and the isomorphous replacement of Fe by Al is low. Comparing the properties observed in synthetic and natural environments, the hematite and goethite from the Rio Capim kaolin profile have characteristics that relate these minerals to a formation environment in hydromorphic conditions where the influence of organic matter was low, with low iron activity, weakly reduced and acidic conditions. These conditions are found in a saprolitic domain in accordance with the bottom facies of a thick laterite profile. Despite agreeing with a laterite model, differences make it difficult to explain iron depletion by organic matter only (Pirabas Event) and the origin of flint kaolin facies by a subsequent and superimposed laterite period. With the hematite and goethite properties found in this study, it is possible to propose that the Rio Capim kaolin is the bottom facies of a laterite profile formed in the zone permanently below the water table. Contrasting with the upper laterite portion of the profile, the bottom zone is in hydromorphic conditions and allowed the fixation of Al and Si to form kaolinite by primary feldspar and mica minerals of the Ipixuna Formation. This environment promotes the slow depletion of iron without the need of an exceptional accumulation of organic matter. The flint kaolin facies was formed in the same period of the soft kaolin facies and the observed differences in the kaolinite morphology are only related to changes caused by the location of this facies in the intermediate zone characterized by the water table fluctuation, but again without the need of subsequent superimposed lateritic processes.

O dimensionamento de sistemas de transporte hidráulico de polpas minerais exige especial atenção à medida que partículas grossas apresentam um comportamento de sedimentação no interior dos tubos. Dentro desta situação, a velocidade de transporte da polpa mineral deve ter magnitude suficiente para suspender e transportar os sólidos, evitando que os mesmos se depositem na base da tubulação. O bombeamento de polpas minerais em tubos horizontais contendo partículas grossas constituiu o objeto desta tese. Um levantamento sobre a literatura corrente foi realizado e, através de procedimentos experimentais, obteve-se um banco de dados para o modelamento da velocidade crítica (VC), isto é, a velocidade mínima em que ocorre a formação de um leito móvel na base do tubo, apresentando magnitude ligeiramente superior à velocidade de deposição VD, caracterizada pelo início da deposição das partículas na base dos dutos. Para a realização dos ensaios, foram construídas duas unidades experimentais de bombeamento de polpa mineral, onde foram estudadas as seguintes variáveis: i) gradiente de pressão por metro de tubo horizontal (\'delta\'P/L), ii) velocidade média do fluxo (V), iii) perfil de concentração de sólidos ao longo da seção transversal, iv) fator de forma através da função de esfericidade das partículas (\'psi\'), v) densidade do sólido e do líquido, vi) concentração volumétrica dapolpa mineral, vii) granulometria dos sólidos e viii) diâmetro da tubulação. A primeira unidade experimental foi montada com tubulação em PVC transparente de diâmetro interno de 25,4mm e a segunda unidade foi construída em PVC branco com um trecho de 2m em acrílico transparente, apresentando diâmetro interno de 50,8mm. A velocidade critica (VC) para cada condição estudada foi determinada visualmente, através das seções transparentes da tubulação. As amostras utilizadas neste trabalho foram: concentrados de apatita e hematita e o mineral quartzo. As frações granulométricas estudadas foram inseridas em duas classes de tamanho, sendo a primeira classe passante em 297µm e retida em 249µm e a segunda classe passante em 149µm e retida em 105µm. Os resultados permitiram determinar um novo modelo semiempírico para VC, alcançando desvios menores que 10% para as velocidades preditas em relação aos valores de velocidades observadas experimentalmente. / The design of hydraulic systems of slurry transport demands a special attention due to coarse particles present a settling behavior inside the pipes. In this situation, the transport velocity should have order of magnitude sufficient to promote the suspension and the transport of particles, avoiding the solids deposition at the bottom of pipe. The transport of mineral slurries containing coarse particles was the primary goal of the thesis. A survey of the available literature was done and through the experimental tests could be possible to raise a data bank in order to develop a new best fit correlation for the critical velocity (VC) which included the particle shape effect, through the sphericity function. VC could be defined as the minimum velocity where a moving bed of particles takes place at the bottom of the horizontal pipe and it is slightly above the deposition velocity VD, which could be characterized by a bed of stationary particles at the bottom of pipe. The research was conducted using two recirculating pipe test rigs with transparent PVC pipe of 25.4mm and 50.8mm internal diameter with slurry concentrations from 8% up to 27% by volume. The material used was apatite and hematite concentrates and quartz mineral, clustered in two classes of size range (-0.297+0.210mm; -0.149+0.105mm), where the variables were: i) Head losses per meter of horizontal pipe (\'delta\'P/L), ii) Mean transport velocity (V), iii) solids distribution profile, iv) particle shape effect, through the sphericity function (\'psi\'), v) density of particles and liquid, vi) Volumetric concentration of slurries, vii) particles size and viii) pipe diameter. The critical velocity (VC), for each studied condition, was visually determined through the transparent sections of the pipes. The results have yielded a new semi empirical model to predict the critical velocity, yielding a deviation of less than 10% from the observed values of experimental data for VC.

O caulim do Rio Capim na Amazônia Oriental se constitui num depósito importante para o Brasil, ocupando lugar de destaque na produção mundial desta matéria prima mineral. Os modelos estabelecem uma origem para a caulinita vinculada ao intemperismo em condições lateríticas (Paleogeno Inferior) a partir de um substrato formado por rochas sedimentares da Formação Ipixuna (Cretáceo Superior). No perfil, destacam-se em ordem de importância entre os compostos de ferro, a hematita e a goethita, minerais pouco estudados no caulim do Rio Capim. A partir dos fácies principais do caulim (fácies caulim macio na base e caulim duro no topo), foram separados e concentrados os minerais de interesse para estudos de detalhe, utilizando a difratometria de raios X (DRX) e a espectrometria de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR). Entre os parâmetros determinados, obtiveram-se estimativas da dimensão, forma, área superficial e substituição isomórfica. A interpretação dos resultados evidencia o potencial de aplicação das informações na estimativa do comportamento destes minerais durante o processo de beneficiamento e para a discussão do modelo genético dos perfis de caulim. As goethitas e hematitas de ambos os fácies possuem propriedades muito semelhantes, reforçando o modelo que especula sobre uma origem comum para a fácies caulim macio e caulim duro do perfil. Entre as propriedades, destacam-se a elevada cristalinidade e a baixa participação do alumínio em sua composição, proporcionando a estes minerais um comportamento com resistência moderada a elevada nos processos de lixiviação ácida e a tendência de dissolução preferencial da hematita. O conjunto de características dos óxidos e oxihidróxidos de ferro são compatíveis com uma formação em ambientes hidromórficos, com baixa influência da matéria orgânica a partir de soluções com baixa atividade do ferro, moderadamente redutoras a fracamente ácidas. Dentro do modelo genético da formação do caulim, sua origem não está associada à zona de laterização do perfil, sendo compatível com um ambiente saprolítico e hidromórfico. As propriedades observadas permitem afirmar que os processos naturais que favoreceram a formação da caulinita na base do manto de alteração foram suficientemente longos e intensos para promover a retirada do ferro destas fácies num processo não dissociado no tempo. No modelo, o caulim é uma fácies da base do perfil formado abaixo do nível freático de um espesso perfil laterítico em condições moderadamente redutoras e ácidas com elevada atividade do Si e do Al, porém, com carência de Al disponível para a formação da hematita e da goethita. Neste ambiente, haveria uma lenta mobilização do Fe dentro do perfil sem a necessidade do estabelecimento de um evento excepcional com uma elevada atividade da matéria orgânica, como previsto em alguns modelos. / The Rio Capim Kaolin from the eastern Amazon is recognized as one of the largest deposits of Brazil with a quality and volume that place this area amongst the most important deposits in the world. Despite the importance and the significant amount of studies about kaolin, many questions remain unanswered and the genesis of this occurrence is not well understood. Perhaps, the consensus today is the acceptance of the Rio Capim kaolin origin to be related to a lateritic weathering process during the Early Paleogene, period with favorable geotectonic, duration and climatic conditions to originate a thick cover with the development of a complete weathering profile above a substrate composed by sedimentary rocks of the Ipixuna Formation (Cretaceous). The models consider kaolin to be a bottom facies of a thick lateritic profile, but nowadays the upper lateritic facies was destroyed (probably by erosion periods along the middle to upper Paleogene). The kaolin profile has two facies: the bottom one, which is called soft kaolin, and the upper, differentiated one forming the flint kaolin. Most controversial points are related to the way that the flint kaolin was formed and the mechanism in which the iron was mobilized from the kaolin profile as a whole. This study aims to get some insight about the Rio Capim kaolin development using some properties measured from the iron oxides and oxyhydroxides. The iron and titanium minerals from the kaolin represent the most important contaminants, and a large effort is made by the industry to eliminate their influence but, despite this negative reputation, those minerals also represent a source of valuable information about the environmental conditions of the profile. Among them, hematite is the most widespread in the entire kaolin profile, followed by goethite, whose importance increases in the direction of the flint kaolin facies. Representative samples of kaolin facies were selected from the kaolin profile and submitted to an approach that allowed concentrating the iron minerals and eliminating the influence of kaolinite. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), a set of properties of the hematite and goethite were determined, including median crystal dimensions, shapes, specific surface area and mineral composition by estimating the isomorphous replacement of iron (Fe) by aluminum (Al). The results show that hematites and goethites do not have enough differences in their properties to support a genesis model with radical changes in their conditions . In terms of behavior to acid leaching, the observed variations were important to predict differences in the rate of mineral dissolution and possibilities of preferential dissolution of hematite in relation to goethite, promoting the increase of the yellow component with the leaching. Both hematite and goethite have high crystallinity and the isomorphous replacement of Fe by Al is low. Comparing the properties observed in synthetic and natural environments, the hematite and goethite from the Rio Capim kaolin profile have characteristics that relate these minerals to a formation environment in hydromorphic conditions where the influence of organic matter was low, with low iron activity, weakly reduced and acidic conditions. These conditions are found in a saprolitic domain in accordance with the bottom facies of a thick laterite profile. Despite agreeing with a laterite model, differences make it difficult to explain iron depletion by organic matter only (Pirabas Event) and the origin of flint kaolin facies by a subsequent and superimposed laterite period. With the hematite and goethite properties found in this study, it is possible to propose that the Rio Capim kaolin is the bottom facies of a laterite profile formed in the zone permanently below the water table. Contrasting with the upper laterite portion of the profile, the bottom zone is in hydromorphic conditions and allowed the fixation of Al and Si to form kaolinite by primary feldspar and mica minerals of the Ipixuna Formation. This environment promotes the slow depletion of iron without the need of an exceptional accumulation of organic matter. The flint kaolin facies was formed in the same period of the soft kaolin facies and the observed differences in the kaolinite morphology are only related to changes caused by the location of this facies in the intermediate zone characterized by the water table fluctuation, but again without the need of subsequent superimposed lateritic processes.

Geological disposal of radioactive wastes currently stored at Earth's surface is now the favoured management pathway for these materials. Typically, intermediate level wastes (ILW) are grouted and emplaced in a geological disposal facility (GDF) which will be backfilled, possibly with cementitious materials. Post-closure leaching of the cementitious materials in a GDF is expected to create hyperalkaline conditions in and around the repository, resulting in mineral alteration and crystallisation, both within the engineered barrier and host rock; creating a persistent chemically disturbed zone (CDZ). Iron derived from within the host rock as a result of alkaline breakdown of Fe-bearing silicate minerals (e.g. biotite, chlorite); corrosion products formed within the repository; or iron contained within the waste; will form secondary iron (oxyhydr)oxide minerals. The formation and re-crystallisation of these reactive mineral phases may sequester radionuclides through a host of processes: surface-mediated reduction to less soluble forms; adsorption onto, and/or incorporation into stable secondary or tertiary iron oxide phases. Therefore iron (oxyhydr)oxides will be key to the fate of radionuclides potentially released from within radioactive wastes disposed of in a GDF.In this study, the fate of U(VI) and Tc(VII) was considered during crystallisation of ferrihydrite to more stable iron oxide phases (e.g. hematite and magnetite) and, in three synthetic cement leachates (pH 13.1, 12.5, 10.5) designed to reflect the early-, middle- and late-stage evolution of the CDZ. XRD and SEM/TEM have been used to characterise the mineralogy during crystallisation. Partitioning of U(VI) and Tc(VII) between the solid and solution has been followed throughout, with chemical extractions used to determine the distribution of the radionuclides adsorbed to, and incorporated within the solid. Synchrotron-based XAS techniques have been utilised to probe the oxidation state and molecular scale bonding environment of the radionuclides associated with the solids. The data suggest that: U(VI) is incorporated into the hematite structure in place of Fe(III), in a distorted octahedral environment with elongation of the uranyl bond; Tc(VII) is reduced to Tc(IV) and incorporated into the octahedral site within the magnetite structure in place of Fe(III), and is retained in the same environment even after extensive oxidation of the magnetite to maghemite; and that U(VI) may also be incorporated as U(V) or U(VI) into the magnetite structure, with similar recalcitrant behaviour during oxidation. These results highlight the importance of mineral reactions within the CDZ as potentially significant pathways for immobilising radionuclides released from a GDF.

Orientadores: Ana Flávia Nogueira, Flávio Leandro de Souza / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T13:00:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carminati_SaulodoAmaral_M.pdf: 3434559 bytes, checksum: 5dc1e86f14ccc0bccd7264ae9b28c11e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: O Resumo poderá ser visualizado no texto completo da tese digital / Abstract: The Abstract is available with the full electronic digital document / Mestrado / Quimica Organica / Mestre em Química

[pt] Nos últimos anos, vários estudos têm sido realizados na aplicação dos microrganismos na biotecnologia mineral, atuando como coletores, depressores ou espumantes amigáveis com o meio ambiente, e induzindo propriedades hidrofóbicas, uma vez que eles podem-se aderir seletivamente sobre a superfície do mineral. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar e avaliar o comportamento da cepa Rhodococcus ruber com a hematita. Entre os estudos efetuados estão à adesão microbiana à superfície mineral, medida do potencial zeta e análise no infravermelho antes a após interação do biorreagente com a hematita, assim como o estudo dos ensaios de microflotação. A amostra foi condicionada com a suspensão de biomassa por meio de agitação sob condições específicas, tais como tamanho das partículas, concentração da biomassa, pH da solução e tempo de condicionamento. Os resultados mostraram uma mudança no perfil do potencial zeta da hematita após interação com a R.ruber, e sua adesão na superfície do mineral foi maior ao redor do pH 3, e na concentração de 0.60g.L(-1) (10(9) células). Estudos de flotação foram realizados na célula de flotação modificada Partridge-Smith de 0.23L, e a maior valor de flotabilidade (84 por cento) foi atingido na fração menos 53 mais 38 um. Estudos complementários de flotabilidade foram realizados utilizando o espumante comercial Flotanol D24 combinado com a biomassa R.ruber, encontrando resultados interessantes em função do tamanho de partícula. Assim esta pesquisa visa avaliar a eficiência da bioflotação de minerais, particularmente da hematita, e do uso potencial do Rhodococcus ruber como biocoletor, projetando-se a uma futura aplicação na indústria da flotação mineral. / [en] In the recent years, research has been developed in the application of microorganisms in mineral technology, acting as environmental friendly collectors, depressors and/or frothers and inducing hydrophobic properties, since they can be selectively adhere onto the surface of the mineral. This research work deals with the fundamental aspects of hematite flotation using the bacterial strain Rhodococcus ruber. The aim of this research was to study and evaluate the behavior of Rhodococcus ruber strain before and after interaction with hematite particles. The sample was conditioned with the biomass suspension by stirring under specific conditions such as particle size, biomass concentration, pH solution and conditioning time. Among the studies conducted are the microbial adhesion to the mineral surface, zeta potential measurements and analysis of infrared spectra before and after interaction of Rhodococcus ruber with hematite, as well as microflotation studies. The results showed a change in hematite zeta potential profile after interaction with Rhodococcus ruber, and its adhesion onto the mineral surface was higher at pH 3 and at concentration of 0.60 g.L(-1) (10(9) cells). Flotation studies were carried out in a 0.23L modified Partridge-Smith flotation cell, and the highest floatability (84 percent) was achieved at size fraction any less 53 more 38 um. Also, floatability studies were performed using frother Flotanol D24 combined with the Rhodococcus ruber biomass, concluding with interesting results in function of the particle size range. This work aims to evaluate the efficiency of bioflotation of minerals, particularly hematite, and the potential use of Rhodococcus ruber as biocollector, projecting its future application in mineral flotation industry.

This study aims to find how density affects the reduction extent and reduction rate. H2-CO gas mixture is used as reducing agent. Five groups of different density pellets were reduced at four different temperatures. Light optical microscope (LOM) and scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) used to detect completely and partially reduced pellets to investigate how density affects the reduction mechanisms. Results illustrate that density affects reduction extent and reduction rate a lot. However, when reaction temperature is 1123 K, density has less influenc on reduction extent. The carbon deposition occurred for high density pellets at 973 K and 1023 K. The reduction process cannot be described by a single rate controlling step. Reduced layer is denser compared with unreduced layer. Reaction at initial stages goes much faster than later stages.