Nano-based systems for oil spills control and cleanup

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2014-05, Vol.272, p.20-27
• Main Authors: Avila, Antonio F., Munhoz, Viviane C., de Oliveira, Aline M., Santos, Mayara C.G., Lacerda, Glenda R.B.S., Gonçalves, Camila P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Emulsions; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; Exact sciences and technology; Exfoliated graphite; Graphite - chemistry; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Hydrophobicity; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanotechnology - methods; Oil spills clean-up; Oils - chemistry; Petroleum; Petroleum Pollution - analysis; Pollution; Polystyrenes - chemistry; Sub-micro membranes; Viscosity; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.02.038

•New system for oil spill cleanup using the nanotechnology approach.•It combines superhydrophobic nanomembranes and oleophilic graphite nanoplatelets.•It is environment friendly with oil absorption capacity peak of 32g/g.•The Tea-bag shape was design for keep the system efficient and easy to be recycled. This paper reports the development of superhydrophobic nanocomposite systems which are also oleophilic. As hydrophobicity is based on low energy surface and surface roughness, the electrospinning technique was selected as the manufacturing technique. N,N′ dimethylformamide (DMF) was employed as the polystyrene (PS) solvent. The “Tea-bag” (T-B) nanocomposite system is based on exfoliated graphite surrounded by PS superhydrophobic membranes. The T-B systems were tested regarding its adsorption and absorption rates. To test these properties, it was employed three different water/oil emulsions, i.e., new and used motor oil, which have physical properties (viscosity and specific gravity) similar to heavy crude oil extracted in Brazil, and vacuum pump oil (which does not form oil/water emulsion). It was observed that oil adsorption rate is dependent on oil surface tension, while the absorption rate is mainly dependent on membrane/exfoliated graphite surface area. Experimental data show that oil absorption rates ranged between 2.5g/g and 40g/g, while the adsorption rate oscillated from 0.32g/g/min to 0.80g/g/min. Furthermore, T-B systems were tested as containment barriers and sorbent materials with good results including its recyclability.