Preparação e caracterização de (nano)compósitos contendo carvão hidrotérmico e nanopartículas de óxido de titânio

Abstract

Multifunctional composites have received great attention in the last years, mostly due to the possibility of performing various functions through incorporation of different materials and for providing a way of intensifying properties of materials already used in industrial processes or in development phase. Hydrothermal carbonization is a process used for a wide variety of purposes, including the production of composites, especially those related to renewable carbon sources, since it is a simple and inexpensive way of obtaining differentiated materials. In this Work were produced composites from hydrothermal carbonization of different carbon sources (glucose, cellulose and chitosan) e titanate nanotubes. The analysis performed consisted in X ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and N2 adsorption-desorption. Based on these analyses structural differences can be seen between (nano)composites from different carbon sources. Hydrothermal treatment enhanced partial transformation of titanate nanotubes into titanium oxide (TiO2) anatase. Preparation of composites titanium oxide/hydrothermal carbon from glucose and chitosan was successful, however it was unsuccessful for cellulose as a carbon source, since the carbon quantities observed in these samples were very small. Further analyses are necessary for determining the potential for use of prepared (nano)composites as adsorbents/photocatalysts in environmental remediation.