Oil absorption with fibrous waste

The oil absorption capacity of these fibrous test samples was determined by measuring the mass of the oil-soaked specimens. In each determination, the oil-soaked specimens were carefully removed from the oil beaker using forceps. After removal, ten seconds was allowed for the samples to drip off excess oil before the weighing was made. The absorption capacity was finally calculated by dividing the mass of the oil absorbed by the mass of fiber  

Oil absorption data on several fibrous materials are presented in Table 10.10. The data for raw cotton (RC), melt blown (MBPP) and staple (SPP) polypropylene are included for comparison purposes. These fibers represent some of the fiber types used in commercial oil spill clean-up applications. The data show that compared to RC, MBPP and SPP, the shredded textile waste fibers absorb oil at a much faster rate than traditional oil-spill clean-up fibers. However, Table 10.10 also shows that the oil absorption capacities of the textile waste products, are lower 

Fibrous material Absorption capacity Absorption rate  

From this work, the potential use of these textile wastes for industrial oil spiU clean-up apphcations can be justified. They would be filled into a knitted sock boom configuration. Absorbent boom socks and matted pads are the usual configurations used in factory fluid-spill clean-up. It is suggested that some oil boom samples be prepared and tried in some controlled field testing of these novel textile waste materials. 

The authors wish to thank Dr Armand Lewis for conducting the frictional and oil absorption experiments and the University of Massachusetts Lowell for granting permission to reproduce sections of the Chelsea Center for Recycling and Economic Development Report 17, 2000. 

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