Exploring the potential of Desert Rose fibers (Adenium obesum) for the remediation of oil-contaminated sites

• Published in: Journal of water process engineering 2024-12, Vol.68, p.106390, Article 106390
• Main Authors: Godoy, Bianca Alice Santos de, Galindo, Davisson Costa, Fonseca, Eduardo Jorge, Zanta, Carmem Lúcia de Paiva e Silva, Oliveira, Laís Farias Azevedo de Magalhães, Duarte, José Leandro da Silva, Bernardo, Vanderson, Oliveira, Leonardo Mendonça Tenório de Magalhães
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Desert rose; FL-LDF model; Natural sorbents; Oil spill; Sorption kinetics
• ISSN: 2214-7144; 2214-7144
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106390

This work proposes the use of Fibers from the pod of Desert Rose, Adenium obesum (DRF), as an alternative for oil removal in spill scenarios and cleaning of contaminated bird feathers. The sorption capacity of biomass was evaluated through kinetics tests, which were adjusted using the Fractal Linear Driving Force (FL-LDF) model. Additionally, capture stability tests were performed to determine the oil retention capacity of the material. Furthermore, the DRF were tested in the cleaning of bird feathers, and the fibers were characterized using Optical Microscopy (OM), SEM, FTIR and TGA. The DRF demonstrated sorption efficiency, with approximately 13.01 ± 1.87 g/g, 14.59 ± 0.58 g/g and 49.12 ± 2.43 g/g, for diesel oils, 20 W50 mineral oil and petroleum, respectively. It was found that these results were achieved by combining the viscosity with the functional groups identified on the material surface, which strongly contributed to the sorption capacity. The sorption kinetics indicated a fast rate in the first minute of testing for diesel oils and 20 W50. The material was still stable, managing to retain 65 %, 83 % and 78 % and removing from the feathers a total of 82 %, 71 % and 81 % of diesel oils, 20 W50 and petroleum. The biomass presented a hollow cylindrical structure, with the presence of grooves and roughness in some regions of its surface with a thin wall, demonstrating to be an efficient and competitive oil sorbent. [Display omitted] •DRF is new highly efficient natural material to act in oil spill scenarios.•The material was tested in the sorption of diferente types of oil.•DRF has oil sorption capacity of 49.12 ± 2.43 g/g.•The sorbent is available in large scale and can be fabricated at low cost.