Highly Efficient Eco-Friendly Polyurethane Composites with Palm Fibers in Removal and Recovery of Oil Spills

Abstract

Abstract This work aims to reveal the highly efficient performance of eco-friendly polyurethane (PU) composites with natural palm fibers in the removal and recovery of oil spills. In addition, it is shown that this composite allows oil recovery and reuse, and still the composite material reusability. The study was done from the composite material and mini sorption barriers, up to real scale barriers. The eco-friendly polyurethane-natural palm fibers residue composite foams were obtained by the partial replacement of petrochemical monomers with polyols derived from vegetable oils, and the addition of natural palm fiber residues. The initial tests were carried out in the laboratory using the composite material and mini sorption barriers with 0.3 m. The oil sorption capacity and the sorption efficiency in oil and water were studied using crude and used oils. Also, the oil recovery and the material reusability were tested. Additionally, the oil spill sorption and containment performance of real scale barriers, 3 m long, were tested at a swimming pool and at wave bay and river flow scenarios, respectively. The study showed that composite material exhibited higher efficient oil sorption capacity and recovery efficiency in water, reaching values of 20-26 g.g-1 and 85-99 %, respectively. This material still allows the sorption of the dissolved oil, been possible to observe the oily water clarification by the demulsification. Besides, it was possible to recover about 60 % of the oil and material reuse or recycling of at least 7 cycles. Also, efficient results were obtained for the mini sorption barriers. In the case of the bigger barriers, the tests also reveal high oil absorption capacity and that barriers are effective in the adsorption of oil spills. It was observed that the barriers absorbed almost 100% of the oil and maintained its buoyancy. The buoyancy remains greater than 46% after oil sorption. Then, we can conclude that the developed and patented eco-friendly polyurethane - natural palm fibers residue composite foams are excellent materials to be applied in sorption barriers, and these barriers are highly efficient in the removal and recovery of oil spills, also allowing the recovery of oil and the barrier reusability. The novelty is the introduction of efficient eco-friendly composite materials used in sorption barriers. This composite material was tested at the Centre of Documentation, Research, and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (CEDRE), in France, certifying their efficiency and that the material can be recommended for use as a floating sorbent for oil pollution.