Desenvolvimento de sistema integrado para degradação de agrotóxicos e geração de energia

Abstract

According on the demand for processes that minimize the environmental impact generated by waste, efficient systems that make possible the degradation of these compounds and allow its use as an alternative source for renewable energy generation are increasingly required. The increasing food production to meet the needs of the world population has encouraged the use of agrochemicals in order to ensure productivity in crops. The use of insecticides is increasing to control pests and herbicides for weed control, because there is a lack of effective control that includes new production strategies. Techniques such as crop rotation, no-till system introduction and use of green pesticides (natural insecticides) provide a more sustainable agriculture and reduce impacts to the environment. In this context, this work presents an alternative development of an integrated system for remediation of environments contaminated with simultaneous generation of electricity. The materials were prepared from reagents and accessible metals, which reduce costs and contribute to a clean process, without the addition of organic additives. Due to the high oxidizing potential of hydroxyl radicals generated by the pair electron-hole (e+ + h+) in the semiconductors, was possible to degrade the organic compounds used in the system. The results showed that the generation of current in an area of 6,9 cm2 was 193,37 uA in potassium hydrogen phthalate degradation, using Cu/CuO electrode as a photocatalyst. The Aminol® and Connect® pesticides have been degraded at a percentage of 54,46% and 21,02%, respectively, after 1 hour and 30 minutes in the system, under ultraviolet radiation. The degradation of organic contaminants and simultaneous power generation of energy in integrated system provides a self-sustaining form of wastewater treatment and energy recovery, being possible its use on a large scale.