Eco-friendly sorbents for petroleum and diesel based on macadamia nutshell waste in castor oil-based polyurethane foam for oil spill

Author(s)

Maia, Lana S. ; Neto, Thalita da Silva ; Perluxo, Julia Dornelas ; do Carmo, Flavia Lima ; Rosa, Derval S. ; Mulinari, Daniella R.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ADSORPTION-JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ADSORPTION SOCIETY; v. 30, n. 8, p. 15-pg., 2024-09-21.

Abstract

Aquatic environments have faced significant and severe impacts in recent years due to oil spills and chemical leaks in oceanic and river ecosystems. Because of this, several studies have aimed to develop sustainable adsorbents with hydrophobic characteristics. This research focuses on creating eco-friendly sorbents using macadamia nutshell waste (MW) incorporated into castor oil-based polyurethane foam at different proportions (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%). The study also evaluates the absorption efficiency of these sorbents for different oil types, including crude oils (crude oil CB, crude oil SB, diesel S10, and diesel S500). The eco-friendly sorbents (biocomposites) were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, density, and contact angle analyses. Results revealed that the pore morphology of sorbents changed to a partial closed-cell structure with a smaller pore size. Additionally, the biocomposites exhibited a higher contact angle (119.1 degrees +/- 0.4) compared to pure polyurethane (PU). The oil absorption efficiency by biocomposites showed maximum sorption of 7.3, 7.1, 5.1, and 3.9 g.g-1 for crude oils (SB and CB), S10, and S500 diesel, respectively. The absorption results showed that the biocomposites showed good removal of heavy oils (crude oil) compared to light oils (diesel S10 and S500). Among the isotherm models used, the Langmuir model demonstrated the most accurate fit and estimated a maximum adsorption capacity of 5.39, 4.23, 3.24, and 2.69 g.g-1 for crude oil CB, crude oil SB, S10, and S500 diesel respectively, using PU + 20% MW. Additionally, PU + 20% MW showed excellent reusability during 30, 30, 30, and 10 cycles of sorption-desorption for crude oil CB, crude oil SB, S10, and S500 diesel, respectively. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/14714-1 - Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2020/13703-3: Cromatógrafo de Íons Modular 940 Professional IC Vario
• Grantee: Derval dos Santos Rosa
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 20/13703-3 - Environmentally friendly porous materials for the recovery and revaluation of metals reclaimed from contaminated water
• Grantee: Derval dos Santos Rosa
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 23/14598-7 - DEVELOPMENT OF AEROGELS CONTAINING CELLULOSE MICROFIBERS AND CLAY FOR THE METAL IONS REMOVAL PRESENT IN CONTAMINATED WATER
• Grantee: Lana Siqueira Maia
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 19/04269-0 - Evaluation of novel polymer nanoparticles as potential carriers for simultaneous release of a photosensitising agent and an active chemotherapeutic agent
• Grantee: Simone de Fátima Medeiros Sampaio
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants