partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

All the three materials were found to have low hydrophobic and high oleophilic properties. Finally, I would like to thank the laboratory technician of the Rock and Fluid Properties laboratory in Block 15 and Mechanical Block 17, Mr. This was due to the explosion that took place under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico (G.O.M).

However, the cost of the synthetic absorbents is very high and takes longer to break down.

Significant of the Project

Objectives

Scope of Study

The Relevancy of the Project

The second section of the project will mainly be in conducting the experiment to test the rate of oil and water absorption and the wettability effects of the materials on crude oil and diesel. Adsorption Rate - Thicker oil adheres to the surface of the adsorbent more effectively. The largest sources from human activity originate in the exploration, production and transportation phases of the oil and gas industry.

It is used to analyze the surface morphology and microporous structure of the materials. This proved that during an oil spill, the oil will float on top of the sea water due to a lower density. The formation of a layer of wax on the surface of the crude oil affects the reading.

The SEM test was performed to observe the surface morphology and microporous structure of the materials. The interfacial tension meter (IFT) is used to measure the contact angle of the liquid (crude oil and diesel oil) on the surface of the materials kapok, coconut and human hair. Sessile drop means that a drop of oil droplet drips onto the surface of the material.

Then using the 1FT car camera, the contact angle will be calculated automatically. Kapok does not dissolve in seawater, but stays on top of the water. This is one of the characteristics that can lead to a good replacement for oil spill absorbent material.

The color of the sea water has also changed due to the lignin content of the coconut that dissolves in the sea water. Based on the result, in order for human hair to absorb all the 200 ml of oil on top of the sea water surface, the amount of hair required is times more (20g). When coir is first spread on the surface of the oil, it remains floating on the oil surface.

Figure 1 :Kapok [http://kekabuworld.blogspot.com/2010/ll/about-kapok-or- [http://kekabuworld.blogspot.com/2010/ll/about-kapok-or-in-malaysian-language.html]

Feasibility of Project with Time frame

Organic Vegetable Products

Organic product application in the oil spill cleanup for each oil spill has been effective even where oil concentration is relatively high [Johnson et a!., 1973]. Other plant components include hemicellulose, lignin, waxes and most important for the oil spill cleanup process, a rigid, non-collapsing lumen. The lumen is a cavity bounded by a plant cell wall; the lumen provides large gaps where the oil is collected and trapped.

Thus, the organic products used in oil spill cleanup must have high cellulose content, hydrophobic and oleophilic capabilities, good absorption capabilities, buoyancy even when saturated with oil, resistant to wave action and reused to soak up more oil.

Absorbents Background

The presence of cellulose, waxes and non-collapsing lumen gives these organic products hydrophobic and oleophilic abilities even in salt water [Rosemary Stephen., 2010]. In order for an absorbent to be useful in oil recovery, it must be oleophilic (attracts oil) and hydrophobic (repels water) [Natasha Luqman., 2006]. Absorbent materials used for oil recovery must be disposed of in accordance with local/state approvals and federal regulations.

Oil Retention - The weight of recovered oil can cause an absorbent structure to sink and deform, and when lifted out of the water, it can release oil trapped in its pores.

Natural Organic Minerals

Kapok (CeibaPentandra)

When the fiber assembly is placed on a calm water surface, it floats on the surface of the water, causing a slight water surface depression due to the water's inability to penetrate the kapok assembly. The air channel trapped in the kapok lumen apparently prevented the ingress of water, which has high interfacial tension with the kapok.

Coconut Husk (Coir)

Oil Spill Pollution

Marcia McNutt, US Geological Survey Director and Science Advisor to lead a group of experts to generate a preliminary flow rate as soon as possible and a final flow estimate based on the review within two months. The assessment made will determine how bad the contamination is and the control plan for cleaning up the spill. The June 10, 2010 press release announced that two new teams had been added to the group: the Reservoir Modeling Team, which would help determine the rate at which oil flowed from the reservoir to the well, and the Nodal Analysis Team, which would use that information to determine the rate at which the oil traveled through the well and into the Gulf.

According to the accompanying press release, the new estimate was "based on a combination of high-resolution video analysis taken by remotely operated vehicle (ROVs), acoustic technologies and measurements of oil collected from the oil production vessel along with pressure measurements inside the top cap". Given the new figures, the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Incident concluded that the total amount of oil discharged during the spill was barrels (± 10%, giving a range of 4,435,290 to at 5,420,910 barrels total), a number not reduced by the amount of oil captured at the wellhead.

Figure 3 :The Estimated Amount Spilled by Deepwater Horizon [Cutler Cleveland, 2010]

Ten Largest Oil Spill in US

In order to have a deeper understanding and knowledge related to oil spill absorbents, some journal articles were studied and analyzed. The main goal of the researcher was to find materials that have a high level of oil absorption, are hydrophobic/oleophilic, reusable and biodegradable. Organic plant products or inorganic mineral products are the main categories of materials used by these researchers due to their ability to degrade within a reasonable time frame.

The method used by these researchers is similar to placing sorbents in oil, actively shaking the container to observe the relative retention capacity, some use FESEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope) to observe the contact angle of the oil droplet on the sorbent. , some have observed the optimal time of oil absorption by sorbents, and some use chemical agents to increase the ability of sorbents to absorb more oil. Through the results and findings of these researchers, they proved that some organic and inorganic products are very capable of replacing the synthetic type of sorbents. However, inorganic mineral products are the least favored because “most of them have poor buoyancy and oil absorption ability [Teik-Thye Lim, Xiaofeng Huang, 2007].

The importance of these journals is that, these researchers had narrowed the scope of the search for an alternative sorbent in oil spill cleanup. The methods used in conducting the test can also be applied to the author's project, which will help the author in the selection of materials that can be used to replace synthetic sorbents such as polypropylene and polyurethane.

Theory

Absorption Test

Approximately lg of a sorbent material was added to the system, which was shaken for 10 min at 98 cycles/min.

Wettability Test

Introduction to Project Activities

Viscosity and Density Test

Viscosity test will be done for Dulang crude oil and diesel oil using Brookfield LVPV -1 viscometer. The test will be run several times for each type of oil until it shows a constant value. Before using the equipment, the density meter should be cleaned with toluene and water.

Failure to do so will result in an incorrect reading of the density of the liquid being examined.

Granulator

Surface Morphology and Micro-Porous

Project Work

Tools Required

Experimental Procedure

Water Absorbency

Oil Absorbency

Data Gathering and Analysis

• Density Test
• Viscosity Test
• Scanning Electron Microscope Images
• Interfacial Tension Test
• Water Absorbency Test
• Oil Absorbency Test

According to the results shown in Table 4, Kapok has the lowest water absorption rate, followed by human hair and coconut fiber. Even when human hair is completely submerged in seawater, it still absorbs little water compared to coconut fiber. Based on Tables 5 and 6, kapok shows the highest absorption of crude oil and diesel, followed by coconut fiber and human hair.

An excellent absorbent material should have an oil absorbency of more than 1 Og/g and 5g/g to be an oil spill absorbent [Bordesom, 2004]. Human hair has the second highest absorbency for crude oil and third for diesel oil absorbency. Kapok has the best oil absorbing ability, but remains floating on the sea water surface and absorbs all the oil on top.

Coir has the second highest diesel oil absorbency and the lowest crude oil absorbency.

Figure 10: Wax - Dulang A column chart is attached in the appendix C.

Conclusions

Recommendations

Alessandro Delle Site Factors Affecting Sorption of Organic Compounds in Natural Sorbent/Water Systems and Sorption Coefficients for Selected Pollutants", Environmental Department Rome Italy. Hegde, Hiroshi Hirashima Absorption and Desorption of Organic Liquids in Elastic Superhydrophobic Silica Aerogels", Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. Gerald Deschamps, Herve Camel, Marie Elisabeth Borredon, Chistophe Bonnin, and Christian Vignoles Oil removal from water by selective sorption on hydrophobic cotton fibers.

Hiroshi Moriwake, Shiori Kitajima, Masahiro Kurashima, Ayaka Hagiwara, Kazuma Haraguchi, Koji Shirai, Rensuke Kanekatsu, Kenji Kiguchi. Use of Silkworm Cocoon Waste as a Sorbent for Removing Oil from Water", Journal of Hazardous Materials. Smith, Oct Oil Pollution Incidents in the Southeast- Damage, Cleanup and Future Control", paper SPE 3046, presented at the Society of Petroleum Engineers 45th Annual Fall Meeting AIME in Houston, Texas. Physico-chemical and sorption characteristics of man Malaysia Ceiba Pentandra (L) Gaertn. as a natural oil sorbent", Department of Chemical Technology, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.

Masahiro Toyoda, Junichi Aizawa, Michio Inagaki Sorption and recovery of heavy oil using exfoliated graphite", Department of Materials Science, Fukui National College of Technology, Geshi Sabae Japan. Spill sorption using charred marrow bagasse: trial for practical application", Int . Kapok) as absorbent material for oil spill control", Final Project Report, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. Jugsujinda Effectiveness of 'Nochar' Solidifier Polymer in Removing Oil from Open Water in Coastal Wetlands", Spill Science and Technology Bulletin.

Effectiveness of modified bentonite clays for the removal of aromatic organics from oily liquid wastes, Spill Science and Technology Bulletin. Romantschuk Use of a peat mining by-product, cotton grass fibers, as a sorbent for oil spills", Marine Pollution Bulletin 49.