ADSORPTION OF CRUDE OIL IN AQUEOUS ENVIRONMENT USING WILD CANE FIBER: EQUILIBRIUM AND KINETIC STUDIES

Abstract

This work evaluates the adsorption capacity of the wild cane fiber (Gynerium Sagittatum) in crude oil. Both untreated biomass and treated with ionic liquid [2HEA][Ac] and acetylated were studied for oil spill cleanup in aqueous environment. Crude oil adsorption tests were performed in a thermostatic bath, varying the time for the kinetic study and the amount of oil for isotherm model. Kinetic study of oil adsorption allowed us to identify that the untreated fiber reached saturation in 90 minutes, while the fiber treated with acetylated and ionic liquid reached saturation in 30 minutes. In equilibrium, the total amount of oil adsorbed by the untreated fiber was 3.8g, whereas in acetylated and ionic liquid treated fiber, the obtained maximum adsorption capacity was 4.4 and 3.7 g, respectively. The remediation process using wild cane fiber followed a second order kinetic rate and Sips and Toth isotherm models provided the best fit to experimental data.