Mechanochemical Modification of Zeolite Rocks with Polyacrylamide for the Preparation of Oil Sorbents

Organomineral sorbents have been prepared by “mild” mechanical activation of air-dry clinoptilolite rocks with synthetic polymer (polyacrylamide) additions in an IVCh-3 laboratory-scale vibratory attritor (shear impact treatment for 3 min; specific mechanical energy delivered to the material, 2.16 kJ/g). The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements. We have determined their specific surface area, specific pore volume, pore diameter, loose bulk and true densities, hygroscopic humidity, and oil sorption capacity. Modification of clinoptilolite rocks with 5 and 10 wt % polyacrylamide has been found to reduce the oil sorption capacity of the zeolites by 6–18%. The oil sorption capacity of the material modified with 20 wt % polyacrylamide was essentially the same as that of mechanically activated polymer-free clinoptilolite rocks.