Application of Different Vegetable Fibers as Natural Sorbents and Their Use in Water Decontamination from Crude Oil

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology Vol. 44; no. 12; pp. 2269 - 2278
• Main Authors: Pires, Marina Rates, Lorenço, Mário Sérgio, Dias, Matheus Cordazzo, da Silva, Lucas Rodrigues, Júnior, Irineu Petri, Mori, Fábio Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frankfurt Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Bagasse; Bamboo; Crude oil; Decontamination; Deionization; Eco‐friendly product; Eucalyptus; Oil adsorption; Oil spills; Recovery of oil spills; Sorbents; Sorption; Sugarcane; Vegetable fibers; Water purification
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.202100105

The petroleum sorption capacities of plant fibers from Eucalyptus sp., Bambusa tuldoides, and sugarcane bagasse fibers were investigated as innovative and low‐cost alternatives from renewable sources. Characterization of the fibers was performed according to their morphological aspects and physicochemical characteristics. The oil used was classified according to its American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity, viscosity, and density. Sorption tests performed with crude oil mixed with deionized water in a static or agitated system revealed maximum sorption capacities of the fibers in the range of 5.08–5.87 g g−1. The biosorbent based on eucalyptus fibers is a promising material for the cleaning of oil spills in water bodies as it is the most hydrophobic material. Sugarcane bagasse and bamboo gave good results for oil sorption applications in the absence of water, validating their use as well. Different cleaning techniques are used in case of oil spills, with adsorbent materials being among the most efficient techniques. The potential of using three different natural vegetable fibers as bioadsorbents was demonstrated, revealing these biosorbents as ecologically correct and economically viable means for separating oils from water.