Polyurethane Foam Reinforced with Fibers Pineaplle Crown Biocomposites for Sorption of Vegetable Oil

Abstract

The concern in reducing the environmental impacts caused by human interference is increasing. Thus, the objective of this study was to generate a sustainable solution for sorption of vegetable oil. It was developed and characterized biocomposites obtained from polyurethane derived from castor oil reinforced with fibers from the crown of pineapple for sorption of vegetable oil. The biocomposites were obtained by mass mixing the polyol with the prepolymer (1:1) and reinforced with 5 to 20 % (wt/wt) pineapple crown fiber in 18 and 35 mesh granulometry. The biocomposites and pure polyurethane were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), porosimetry, contact angle, and density. Sorption tests were carried out on the biocomposites and pure polyurethane (PU). The sorption capacity of the biocomposites was evaluated as a function of the fiber content inserted in the matrix. Results of the sorption tests showed that the biocomposites reinforced with fibers of 18 mesh (20 % wt) presented approximately twice the sorption capacity when compared to pure PU and others biocomposites results, due to high porosity combined with high surface area, which influenced directly in the oil sorption. Response surface methodology (RSM) tecnique confirmed the influence fibers granulometry and content on oil sorption.