Tecnologia para Remoção de Água Livre em Tanques de Armazenamento de Diesel/Biodiesel

Published in: Global Partnerships for Development and Engineering Education: Proceedings of the 15th LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education and Technology
Date of Conference: July 19-21, 2017
Location of Conference: Boca Raton, FL, United States
Authors: Patricia Fregolente, (UNISAL, BR)
Maely Martins, (UNISAL, BR)
Zaida Aguila, (UNISAL, BR)
Leonardo Fregolente, (UNICAMP, BR)
Full Paper: #82

Abstract:

The main objective of studying polyacrylamide and poly (acrylamide -co- sodium acrylate) hydrogels is the application of them in removing water content of liquid fuels, like diesel and biodiesel. The presence of water in fuels causes biological growth in storage tanks. This fact could lead to corrosion of metals (especially iron and steel), formation of sludge and slime, thereby causing blockage of fuel filters and fuel lines, which could in turn damage vehicle fuel injection system. Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of polyacrylamide hydrogels materials in removal water content present in diesel and biodiesel samples. The swelling degree of polyacrylamide hydrogel was about 15 (increasing of 15 times its dry weigh). Even with low swelling, compared to new hydrogels, its application for water removal was very effective. Moreover, new hydrogels synthesized with sodium acrylate and acrylamide obtained a swelling degree (weight of the swollen sample to that of the dry sample) of 140, much higher than the previous one. Swelling degree results demonstrated that the presence of acrylate sodium within hydrogels improves water-uptake due to the increase in hydrophilicity.