Conventional processes for heavy metal removal are costly. Natural and modified clay with quaternary ammonium salt were used as adsorbent for the removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions. Clays were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR, thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Cr (VI) determination was conducted by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, using complexation with 1,5-diphenylcarbazide. Absorbance was measured at the wavelength of 540 nm. The experiments were conducted at 25 ± 1 °C; initial Cr (VI) concentration of 4 to 25 mg L^-1; initial pH of 2, agitation of 150 rpm; contact time of 120 minutes and clay mass of 0.1 g. Natural and modified clays exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 2.548 mg g^-1 and 17.24 mg g^-1, respectively, in accordance with the Langmuir isotherm model. X-ray diffraction analysis of clay indicated that the sample consists mainly of kaolinite and montmorillonite.

In this study, a composite of zinc oxide and manganese ferrite was synthesized using co-precipitation and hydrothermal routes, to be used as photocatalysts in reactions with UV/Vis light source. The synthesized materials were characterized by FTIR, XRD, and SEM, where it was possible to verify the efficiency of the syntheses performed, through the identification of the resulting phases, the evaluation of the structural morphology of the particles, and the analysis of the detachments of the main vibration bonds present in these materials. The composite ZnO/MnFe₂O₄ was used in photodegradation reactions of the antibiotic rifampicin, with catalyst dosage of 0.20; 0.40, and 0.60 g and 10 ppm of rifampicin, reactions using pure ZnO as a catalyst were also performed as a comparative parameter of the influence of MnFe₂O₄ in this system. The composite ZnO/MnFe₂O₄ showed a maximum percentage of rifampicin decontamination of 94.72% and ZnO, 74.20%using 0.20 g of photocatalyst after 90 min, which indicates a positive influence on this process. The solution treated with ZnO/MnFe₂O₄ was subjected to magnetic field induction for attraction and consequently accelerated removal of the solids present, successfully, compacting for the application of ZnO/MnFe₂O₄ to be presented as a promising material for decontamination of emerging pollutants through photocatalytic reactions.