Microfibers, textile fibres shorter than 5 mm, and are shed from fabrics during wear and released into the laundry effluent during washing. When passed through the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), they adsorb toxins, heavy metals and pathogens before being released into the environment. Synthetic microfibers persist for long periods of time in aquatic environments and very little is known about the degradation of processed natural fibres. Hydrocyclonic separation was studied as a way to separate the microfibers from the effluent before being they get additionally contaminated at the WWTP. A hydrocyclone has no moving parts and functions by utilizing centrifugal force and the difference in specific gravity between the fluid and the particles that are to be separated. The separation efficiency is dependent on its dimensional and operation parameters. No previous studies on hydrocyclonic separation of microfibres were found. Polyester fleece blankets were washed. The effluent was filtered, and the filters weighed to determine the mass of the separated fibres. Sampling of the inhomogeneous effluent presented a challenge and larger sample volumes would be needed to adequately represent the population. Using a Büchner funnel, filter fouling led to filtration times of up to 6 h for 1 l of effluent. Dividing the 1 l samples into two 0.5 l samples, filtering separately and adding the weight reduced filtration time to 2 h and the results were not significantly different from filtering the whole 1 l sample with one filter. The hydrocyclones tested separated around 11% of the total weight of microfibers in the effluent, too low to be deemed viable. As only a few dimensional variables were tested, it could possible that a higher fraction could be separated with this method. Given that the commercially available filtration systems separate 30-80%, refining existing methods may yield better results.

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / This study investigated the coagulation diagrams using tannin as organic coagulant, from renewable source, associated or not, to the inorganic coagulant aluminium sulphate and to coagulation auxiliaries sodium aluminate (inorganic) and cationic hemicellulose (from renewable source) for treatment of industrial laundry effluent. The methodology consisted of removing oils and greases, followed by filtration, pH adjustment, and application of the coagulants and auxiliaries at various concentrations. Coagulant tannin is mostly effective in removing turbidity in acid pH\'s (3 to 5) when used at concentrations higher than 1000 ppm, possibly acting under the adsorption mechanisms and formation of bridges, and adsorption, and charge neutrality. When associated to sodium aluminate at ratio 3:1 (v/v) tannin, sodium aluminium oxide), it permitted larger removals of turbidity on acid regions for two ranges of concentration (lower than 1500 ppm and higher than 3750 ppm), indicating that the tannin/sodium aluminium oxide interaction is not favourable to undo itself and interact with the effluent particles. The association of tannin with aluminium sulphate presented the largest removals of turbidity at all pH ranges and concentrations investigated, possibly by an interaction between cation Al3+ and the hydroxyls bonded to the tannin benzene ring forming a chelate with more stability and interaction with suspended particles, stabilizing the flocs formed by this interaction. The addition of cationic hemicellulose offers improvements to the removal of turbidity at the basic pH region (worst tannin performance) provided by tannin, however, its action is conditioned to the tannin efficiency in the coagulation process. The possible interactions between the hemicellulose and the effluent suggest interactions of the type hydrogen bridges and dipole-dipole interactions. The use of tannins associated to cationic hemicellulose allows treatment of industrial laundry effluent with formation of sludge of more biodegradability, which is an advantage from the sustainability point-of-view. / O presente trabalho investigou os diagramas de coagulação, utilizando o coagulante orgânico tanino, proveniente de fonte renovável, associado ou não, ao coagulante inorgânico sulfato de alumínio e aos auxiliares de coagulação aluminato de sódio (inorgânico) e hemicelulose catiônica (de fonte renovável) para o tratamento de efluente de lavanderia industrial. A metodologia consistiu na retirada de óleos e graxas, seguida de filtração e ajuste de pH e aplicação dos coagulantes e auxiliares em diversas concentrações. O coagulante tanino possui maior eficácia na remoção de turbidez em pHs ácidos (3 a 5) quando utilizado em concentrações superiores a 1000 ppm possivelmente, atuando sob os mecanismos de adsorção e formação de pontes e adsorção e neutralização de cargas. Quando associado ao aluminato de sódio em proporção 3:1 ((v/v) tanino/aluminato de sódio), permitiu maiores remoções de turbidez em regiões ácidas para duas faixas de concentração (menores que 1500 ppm e maiores que 3750 ppm ), indicando que a interação entre o tanino e aluminato de sódio não é favorável para se desfazer e interagir com as partículas do efluente. A associação do tanino com o sulfato de alumínio apresentou as maiores remoções de turbidez em todas as faixas de pH e concentrações investigadas, possivelmente, por uma interação entre o cátion Al3+ e as hidroxilas ligadas ao anel benzênico do tanino formando um quelato com maior estabilidade e interação com as partículas suspensas, estabilizando os flocos formados por esta interação. A adição da hemicelulose catiônica oferece melhorias para remoção de turbidez na região de pHs básicos (pior atuação do tanino) proporcionado pelo tanino, porém sua ação está condicionada a eficácia do tanino no processo de coagulação. As possíveis interações entre a hemicelulose e o efluente sugerem interações do tipo pontes de hidrogênio e dipolo-dipolo. O uso dos taninos associado à hemicelulose catiônica permite o tratamento do efluente de lavanderia industrial com a formação de um lodo de maior biodegradabilidade, sendo esta uma vantagem do ponto de vista da sustentabilidade. / Mestre em Química