Coprecipitation is one of the most practical methods used to synthesize ferrite nanoparticles. Fine characteristics of these materials can be improved by means of a series of modifications in the synthesis method. In this paper we present a study of influence of glycerol as structure directing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of zinc ferrite nanoparticle, exploring its chelating capacity and oxidation. The studied materials include two series of zinc ferrite samples and its precursors obtained with or without glycerol throughout different stages during the synthesis process. The structural and morphological characteristics were evaluated by means of different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and thermal analysis. The oxidation of glycerol was determined by high-performance liquid chromatograph. The obtained results demonstrate that zinc ferrite crystals synthesized in the presence of glycerol are initially bigger than those synthesized in absence of it, but according to the oxidation process they tend to decrease giving rise to intermediate phases. Interestingly, these samples grow back during more advanced stages and become structurally better organized, compared to the series of samples produced in absence of glycerol. These results indicate that glycerol is capable to modify the synthesis route of zinc ferrite nanoparticles via coprecipitation, acting directly over the size and morphology of the crystals.

The anaerobic decomposition in landfills produces a gas mixture known as landfill biogas. This biogas consists mainly of CH4 and CO2. The CO2 removal can be carried out by means of adsorption. In order to promote CO2 removal, zeolite type 4A was used as solid adsorbent. The synthesized zeolite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. CH4/CO2 mixture isotherms were obtained in a magnetic suspension balance equipped with a gas dosing unit and Extended Langmuir and Extended Sips models were used to predict mixture isotherms from monocomponent data. Three biogas emissions drains in a sanitary landfill in Caucaia (Ceará State, Brazil) - ASMOC - were chosen to test the performance of zeolite as CO2 adsorbent under real conditions. Zeolite 4A has proven to be very selective for CO2 even in the presence of H2S.