Educational and research institutions grapple daily with the challenging issue of chemical waste
generation. These byproducts stemming from research and teaching activities vary in terms of
their degree of hazardousness, necessitating appropriate treatment and/or disposal to prevent
potential harm to human health and the environment. The Universidade Federal do Norte do
Tocantins (UFNT) currently lacks programs for the management and treatment of chemical
waste. Given the significance of addressing these waste materials generated in UFNT’s
chemistry laboratories, this study aims to treat waste containing copper, silver, and chromium.
To carry out the treatment of copper, silver, and chromium ion-containing waste, as well as
their subsequent reuse, methodologies proposed by Dalpasquale et al. (2011) and adapted by
Carlos and Marque (2022), Felisberto et al. (2008), and Armour (2005) were employed. Using
reagents such as sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid, along with procedures like filtration,
heating, and calcination, a yield of 82.45% was achieved in the formation of penta-hydrated
copper sulfate crystals. These crystals were utilized in practical electrochemistry classes. In the
case of chromium and, silver, solid precipitates of silver chloride and chromium (III) hydroxide
were obtained, significantly reducing the volume of these laboratory rejects. These approaches
not only prevented environmental contamination but also facilitated the reuse of elements,
contributing to cost reduction.
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