High Retention Capacity Research Articles

Sulfur-infiltrated yeast-derived nitrogen-rich porous carbon microspheres @ reduced graphene cathode for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

The defects of polysulfide dissolution and sulfur insulating causes in Li-sulfur batteries have effectively diminished by immobilizing sulfur in porous carbon microspheres via the interactions of doping-nitrogen and encapsulating-reduced graphene. The nitrogen-rich porous carbon microspheres were prepared by using yeast as natural precursor and high content of nitrogen (up to 8.52%) doped carbon microspheres was confirmed by the elemental analysis. As cathode for lithium-sulfur batteries, the rGO@HYC/S composite exhibits a high retention capacity of 921 mA h g−1 at 0.2 C and 675 mA h g−1 at 1 C over 200 cycles. The battery delivers low capacity decay rate of 0.09% and stable coulombic efficiency about 98% at 1 C during the 200 cycles. Further, we reveal that the enhanced electrochemical performance is ascribed to a hollow porous structure of carbon framework for sulfur storage, carbon matrix exerted by nitrogen-doping for polysulfide adsorption, rGO wrapper for polysulfide interception and conductivity improvement.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for the Selective Extraction of Bisphenol A and Progesterone from Aqueous Media.

This paper describes the development of a novel sorbent for selective extraction of endocrine disruptors (EDs) from aqueous media. The main goal was to obtain sufficient molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for selective detection, preconcentration, and extraction of EDs such as bisphenol A (BPA) and progesterone (PG). Series of MIPs and their analogues, non-molecularly imprinted polymers (NIPs), were synthesised following a non-covalent imprinting strategy based on radical polymerisation. Sets of synthesis were performed in order to optimise variables of the polymerisation including solvent, cross-linker, and template ratio. The retention capacity of MIPs was determined using HPLC in the range of 33.3% to 96.6% and 32.5% to 96% for BPA and PG, respectively. The adsorption mechanism was studied by isothermal and kinetic assays. The kinetic analysis showed a high retention capacity within 15 min of contact. The polymer yield was obtained in the range of 30% to 100%. Additionally, there was no significant cross-reactivity observed upon testing MIPs with structural analogues and other endocrine disruptors instead of target molecules. The results also revealed the high importance of different concentrations of cross-linker and solvent during the polymerisation. Firstly, the pre-organisation of complementary functional groups, which were present in the polymerisation mixture, and secondly, selective cavity formation for target molecules.

Hybrid mineral@silsesquioxane particles for water remediation: synthesis, characterization and application as adsorbent of As(V) and other water pollutants

Mineral-coated silsesquioxane particles of approximately 600 nm diameter were synthesized from the hydrolytic co-condensation of N-[3-trimethoxysilyl]-propyl]ethylenediamine (DAS) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The hybrid particles involve nanocomposites with a mineral core (montmorillonite—MMT—or goethite—Gt—nanoparticles) and coated with a silsesquioxane shell containing hydroxyl and amine groups. These particles were specially designed (exposing amino groups) to be highly efficient for the removal of As(V) and to enhance the adsorption properties of the minerals employed in this work. They were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering and thermogravimetric techniques such as dynamic scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The characteristics found in the composite particles compared with pure organosilane DAS/TEOS or with the unmodified minerals proved the effectiveness of the silanization process. As result, hybrid nanocomposite materials were obtained, denoting versatility in their adsorption properties of different types of pollutants. Moreover, all synthesized particles showed a high arsenic retention capacity; experimental results demonstrated that superficial modification of the minerals is the preponderant factor that determines their adsorbent properties, favoring the versatility of these materials making them suitable for the removal of pollutants of diverse charge and nature.

Transfer of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Nutrients in Vegetated Buffer Zones Receiving Treatment Plant Effluent

Vegetated buffer zones (VBZs) are a type of constructed wetlands well known for their purifying capacity. They are built between wastewater treatment plants and receive compartments for a complementary treatment of eutrophicants. This study presents the results of the monitoring of nitrogen and phosphorus transfers in two VBZs with the objective to specify the processes and control factors. Two VBZs, located in Liebsdorf and Raon in the east of France, having contrasting characteristics of surface area, hydraulic load, soil texture and plant species, were monitored for 28 months in order to analyze mineral forms of nitrogen and phosphorus in water, sediment and plants. The decrease in nitrate at the Raon VBZ is linked to low dissolved oxygen (DO) in effluent, which probably triggered denitrification. By contrast, ammonium content remains high. At the Liebsdorf VBZ, high nitrate concentration in water and low ammonium content in soil show that nitrification could be the main process involved, favored by high DO in effluent and helophytes in the ditches. However, the low hydraulic retention time and large hydraulic load limit microbiological processes in the improvement of effluent water quality. Both zones show few changes in phosphorus concentration in water. The content of nutrients in plants is high by comparison with natural wetlands, and twice as high in Liebsdorf as in Raon. However, despite the high retention capacity of plants, the vegetation plays a minor role ( 20%). This study highlights the main factors (soil texture, ratio hydraulic load/surface) which managers can control in order to improve the efficiency of VBZs in nutrient removal.

A novel composite solid polymer electrolyte based on copolymer P(LA-co-TMC) for all-solid-state lithium ionic batteries

The safety issue of lithium ion battery is still a big challenge especially at high temperature. To solve the problem, the biodegradable copolymer P(LA-co-TMC) (Poly Lactide-Trimethylene Carbonate), as a brand new polymer electrolyte host, is firstly applied in lithium ionic battery. A novel composite solid polymer electrolyte (CSPE) was prepared by dip-coating P(LA-co-TMC)/succinonitrile/LiTFSI (P(LA-co-TMC)-SPE) into Celgard 2325 membrane. The results of IR, XRD and SEM demonstrated that the Celgard 2325 membrane was completely coated and permeated by P(LA-co-TMC)-SPE. And the DSC results revealed that the thermostability of CSPE was improved. This CSPE showed high ionic conductance, high lithium ion transference number (tLi+ = 0.563) and wide electrochemical window (>5.2 V). The all-solid-state lithium ion battery with the CSPE based on P(LA-co-TMC) exhibited outstanding cycling performance and >98% coulombic efficiency at 55 °C. Furthermore, it also presented high capacity retention (nearly 100% when returning to 0.1 C) and attractive capacities of 130.4, 122.3, 93.6 and 46 mAh g−1 at C-rates of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 C, respectively. From all the results above, the novel CSPE, with high electrochemical performance and safety at elevated temperature, is a good candidate for the application of all-solid-state lithium battery.

Effect of biochar on fate and transport of manure-borne estrogens in sandy soil

The feasibility of using two types of biochars to reduce steroid hormone pollution from poultry and swine manure application on agricultural land was evaluated. The sorption affinity and desorption resistance of softwood and hardwood biochars were also determined for two estrogen hormones, 17β-estradiol (E2) and its primary metabolite estrone (E1). The softwood and hardwood biochars demonstrated high retention capacity for both estrogens. The effective distribution coefficient (Kdeff) of soil-softwood-derived biochar (SBS450) was significantly higher than soil-hardwood-derived biochar (SBH750), indicating the stronger sorption affinity of SBS450 for estrogens. To validate the laboratory results, a field lysimeter experiment was conducted to study the fate and transport of E2 and E1 in soil and leachate in the presence of 1% softwood-biochar (BS450) in topsoil and to compare it with soil without any amendments. The spatio-temporal distribution of both estrogens was monitored at four depths over a 46-day period. The lysimeters, in which the surface layer of soil was amended with biochar, retained significantly higher concentrations of both estrogen hormones. Although they leached through the soil and were detected in leachates, collected at 1.0m depth, the concentrations were significantly lower in the leachate collected from biochar-amended lysimeters. The result confirmed the efficacy of biochar amendment as a remediation technique to alleviate the manure-borne hormonal pollution of groundwater.

Soil polymer conditioner based on montmorillonite‐poly(acrylic acid) composites

ABSTRACTThe constant deterioration of the soil as a result of natural and anthropogenic processes produces decrease of soil fertility and agricultural production, increase in the cost of food, desertification, and loss of water resources. The objective of this work was to develop a hybrid composite that structural and functionally mimics the humified structure of soils for the development of remediation strategies based on geotransformation of degraded soils. For that, two different strategies for the modification of clay surface were evaluated: (i) covalent linking using trichlorovinylsilane and (ii) electrostatic interaction using N‐vinylbenzyl‐N‐triethyl ammonium chloride. Later, modified clay was characterized and used as crosslinking agent during the free‐radical polymerization of acrylic acid. Particulate nanostructured polymers were characterized and their water absorption capacity, cationic exchange capacity, and ionic retention capacity were determined. Results showed that clay‐poly(acrylic acid) composites can be obtained by described methodology. In addition, materials with 60 and 80% w/w of modified MMT were obtained with particulate shape, high water absorption capacity (273%–568%), high cationic exchange capacity (124–666 meq+/100 g) and high ionic retention capacity (108–194 and 263–313 meq/100 g for major and minor elements, respectively). Finally, it was concluded that synthesized materials mimic structural and functionally the humified structure of soils. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46211.

Assessment of the Binding of Protons, Al and Fe to Biochar at Different pH Values and Soluble Metal Concentrations

Biochar can retain large amounts of protons and metals in the drainage water from acid sulfate soils and mine sites. Metal sorption can, however, be influenced by many factors, such as pH and metal composition. This study investigated proton, Al, and Fe retention capacity of eucalyptus biochar (1% w/v) at different pH and metal concentrations. In the absence of metals, the biochar had a high proton binding capacity, (up to 0.035 mmol of H+), whereas its capacity to retain hydroxide ions was limited. A batch experiment was carried out at pH 4 and pH 7 with 10−6, 10−5, 10−4, 10−3, and 10−2 M of added Fe or Al. Added metals precipitated considerably prior to addition of the biochar except that Al remained highly soluble at pH 4. The biochar had a high retention capacity for Al and Fe; at high (>1 mM) concentrations, over 80% of soluble metals were retained. Metal competition for binding sites of both Al and Fe at different ratios was investigated, but increasing concentrations of one metal did not reduce retention of the other. The results confirmed that biochar has high metal binding capacity under both acidic and neutral conditions.

Novel Flower-Like ZnO Hybridized with Acrylic Ester Resin for Enhanced Oil Absorption Properties

ABSTRACTThe acrylic ester resins have potential applications in for treatment of oily wastewater due to their high oil retention capacity and excellent cycle performance. Herein, a novel acrylic ester hybrid resins composed by poly(n-butylacrylate-co-styrene) resins and flower-like ZnO clusters were prepared using a combination of hydrothermal and suspension polymerization. The hybrid resins can remove a broad variety of oils from water with the maximum oil absorption performance of 30.87 g/g. More importantly, the hybrid resins are reversible and maintain high oil absorption properties after oils absorption-regeneration, making them promising candidates for treatment of oily wastewater.

Comparison of powerpoint with animation enhanced traditional demonstration and traditional practical demonstration in physiology among first year undergraduate medical students

Background: Effective teaching learning activity in physiology practical classes increases learning in cognitive and psychomotor domains with an aim to generate a competent medical graduate. Currently, multimedia teaching tools are being widely used and proven to be effective in enhancing the academic performances in theoretical teaching. Our study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of multimedia in practical classes. Aims and Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare cognitive scores, psychomotor scores, and student’s level of satisfaction and acceptance while undergoing powerpoint (PPT) with animation enhanced traditional demonstration and traditional practical demonstration of hematology practical sessions. Material and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 96 1st year MBBS students, attending physiology practical classes, after obtaining permission from the institutional ethical committee. Traditional demonstration (Group A) and PPT with traditional demonstration (Group B) were given in two practical sessions. Immediate, short-term, and long-term theory retention capacity (cognitive scores) was assessed using pre- and posttest scores. Psychomotor scores were assessed using objective structured practical examination (OSPE) scores. Student’s feedback was taken. Results: Both groups showed an equal increase in their immediate retention capacity. However, Group B showed an insignificant marginal increase in short- and long-term retention capacity. There was a significant increase in short-term psychomotor scores to that of immediate OSPE scores in both groups. However, Group B showed high significant retention capacity (P = 0.007). Student’s feedback revealed traditional method promoted better understanding, whereas PPT with animation gave better clarity, evoked interest, and allowed better 3D view and apparatus identification. Conclusion: PPT with animation can be used as an adjunct to the traditional hands-on demonstrations to strengthen teaching learning activity in physiology practical classes.

Precise control of morphology of ultrafine LiMn2O4 nanorods as a supercapacitor electrode via a two-step hydrothermal method

Ultrafine 1D LiMn2O4 and its promising galvanostatic charge/discharge profiles in KOH/K3Fe(CN)6 electrolyte.

Surface chemistry of iron oxides formed by neutralization of acidic mine waters: Removal of trace metals

Secondary iron minerals are important in mining areas as they are natural scavengers of many contaminants. Thus, aluminium and iron oxides derived from acid mine drainage determine the fate of trace metals commonly found in mining areas. They mainly do this via sorption processes, which prevent leaching of the metals and contamination of surface and groundwater.In the present study, abiotic precipitates were obtained from samples of acid drainage water collected from an abandoned copper mine. Characterization of the precipitates revealed that schwertmannite was the dominant iron mineral phase present. Retention of Cu, Cd, Ni and Pb by natural iron precipitates was compared with retention of the same elements by synthetic analogues. The study findings indicate that the natural abiotic precipitates have a higher retention capacity than their synthetic analogues. Thermodynamic modelling was used to predict the geochemical behaviour of the trace metals in the presence of iron precipitates. Inclusion of adsorption and precipitation reactions in the models yielded a good description of the degree of attenuation of adverse effects of the trace metals. Under acidic conditions, the schwertmannite-like particles initially present in the natural precipitates evolve towards more crystalline mineral phases. This transformation process is accompanied by the release of sulphate ions into the solution and by a decrease in trace metal sequestration.

Dependence of samarium-soil interaction on samarium concentration: Implications for environmental risk assessment.

The sorption and desorption behaviour of samarium (Sm), an emerging contaminant, was examined in soil samples at varying Sm concentrations. The obtained sorption and desorption parameters revealed that soil possessed a high Sm retention capacity (sorption was higher than 99% and desorption lower than 2%) at low Sm concentrations, whereas at high Sm concentrations, the sorption-desorption behaviour varied among the soil samples tested. The fractionation of the Sm sorbed in soils, obtained by sequential extractions, allowed to suggest the soil properties (pH and organic matter solubility) and phases (organic matter, carbonates and clay minerals) governing the Sm-soil interaction. The sorption models constructed in the present work along with the sorption behaviour of Sm explained in terms of soil main characteristics will allow properly assessing the Sm-soil interaction depending on the contamination scenario under study. Moreover, the sorption and desorption Kd values of radiosamarium in soils were strongly correlated with those of stable Sm at low concentrations (r=0.98); indicating that the mobility of Sm radioisotopes and, thus, the risk of radioactive Sm contamination can be predicted using data from low concentrations of stable Sm.

Dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride and diallylamin Co-polymer modified bio-film derived from palm dates for the adsorption of dyes

For the first time, co-polymer of dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride and diallylamin (PDDACD) was used to modify the films derived from the waste of palm date fruits, which were then investigated by the purification of colored aqueous solutions. The physico-chemical characteristics were identified using data color, FT-IR spectroscopy, and SEM features. The modified films were evaluated as adsorbents of Methylene Blue (MB), Direct Yellow 50 (DY50), Reactive Blue 198 (RB198) and Naphtol Blue Black (NBB). High retention capacities were achieved in the following order: The equilibrium da DY50 (14 mg g−1) < RB198 (16 mg g−1) < NBB (63.9 mg g−1) < MB (150 mg g−1). The kinetic modeling of the data revealed that the adsorption data follows the pseudo second order model. It was fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Redushkevich equations, and the data best fit the Freundlich model indicating that the adsorption might occur in the heterogeneous adsorption sites. These results reveal that PDDACD modified films are valuable materials for the treatment of industrial wastewater. Moreover, the as-prepared adsorbent is economically viable and easily controllable for pollutant adsorption.

Kinetic promotion of methane hydrate formation by combining anionic and silicone surfactants: Scalability promise of methane storage due to prevention of foam formation

Abstract Methane storage in its solid hydrate form has recently come up as a rather attractive and low risk option for large scale storage of the gas owing to its mild storage conditions, high gas retention capacity and benign (non-explosive) character. However, it has its fair share of limitations with the slow rate of hydrate formation being one of the most prominent. The addition of surfactants like Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to the hydrate forming system significantly speeds up the process of methane hydrate formation but the large amount of foam generated by these surfactants during the process of hydrate formation and dissociation stands as a major roadblock towards the scaling up of the technology. In the current work, a small amount of a silicon based surfactant has been proposed to be used as antifoam in conjunction with an anionic surfactant SDS to eliminate the foam generation while at the same time promote the kinetics of methane hydrate formation. The idea is simple, cost effective and can be a potential game-changer in the quest to develop a commercially scalable hydrate based methane storage technology.

APPLICATION OF SURFACE COMPLEXATION AND ION EXCHANGE MODELLING FOR THE ESTIMATION OF BENTONITE SORPTION CAPACITY ON SELECTED RADIONUCLIDES UNDER POSSIBLE GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL CONDITIONS IN LITHUANIA

Designing a repository for radioactive waste as a multi-barrier system with predefined multiple safety functions provides for the protection of people and environment from the harmful effect of the ionising radiation of radionuclides once released from high-level radioactive waste. The multi-barrier system is comprised of the engineered barrier system (EBS) and its surrounding natural environment. Because of the high retention capacity for the radionuclides, various forms of bentonite are usually considered as a part of the EBS in the design of radioactive waste repositories. Laboratory batch experiments with natural sediments illustrate that the sorption (and Kd values) is sensitive to aqueous chemical conditions, including the pH and the dissolved carbonate concentration as well as the mineralogy and surface area of the bentonite buffer. The cations considered for the study were chosen as covering a representative range of cations behaviour: from a weakly sorbed cation Cs(I) to moderately sorbed cation the Ni(II) and strongly sorbed cation, Eu(III). In this study, a potential retardation of sorbing radionuclides (Cs, Ni, Eu) as a function of aqueous chemical conditions in the groundwater of the Lithuanian crystalline basement contacting the bentonite material was estimated for the first time. The ion exchange and surface complexation models (SPNE/CE) and the computer program PHREEQC (USA) were applied for modelling the interaction within the radionuclide/water/bentonite system. The modelling of the Kd values under different pH conditions and a given partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the gas phase were performed. The highest value of Kd in the pCO2 open system and the strongest sorption dependence on pCO2 was estimated for Eu(I) among radionuclides being studied. There was estimated only a slight change in Kd values with respect to the temperature.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ct.68.1.18875

Self-Templated Formation of Interlaced Carbon Nanotubes Threaded Hollow Co3S4 Nanoboxes for High-Rate and Heat-Resistant Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (Li-S) have attracted soaring attention due to the particularly high energy density for advanced energy storage system. However, the practical application of Li-S batteries still faces multiple challenges, including the shuttle effect of intermediate polysulfides, the low conductivity of sulfur and the large volume variation of sulfur cathode. To overcome these issues, here we reported a self-templated approach to prepare interconnected carbon nanotubes inserted/wired hollow Co3S4 nanoboxes (CNTs/Co3S4-NBs) as an efficient sulfur host material. Originating from the combination of three-dimensional CNT conductive network and polar Co3S4-NBs, the obtained hybrid nanocomposite of CNTs/Co3S4-NBs can offer ultrahigh charge transfer properties, and efficiently restrain polysulfides in hollow Co3S4-NBs via the synergistic effect of structural confinement and chemical bonding. Benefiting from the above advantages, the S@CNTs/Co3S4-NBs cathode shows a significantly improved electrochemical performance in terms of high reversible capacity, good rate performance, and long-term cyclability. More remarkably, even at an elevated temperature (50 °C), it still exhibits high capacity retention and good rate capacity.

Kinetic release behavior of DTPA-extractable manganese in soils of different cropping systems and total manganese content associated with soil texture

In coarse textured alkaline soils of India, manganese deficiency is a emerging in some crops. Understanding the releasing pattern of manganese in soil under different cropping systems and distribution of total manganese content with different soil textures, a field survey and laboratory experiment were conducted in the Department of Soil Science, CCS HAU, Hisar. Results showed that DTPA-manganese content release in different cropping systems varies from soil to soil as well as system to system. In paddy-wheat cropping system the releasing of manganese was up to 40 days and thereafter the release of manganese appear remain constant and in cotton-wheat, sugarcane-sugarcane cropping systems it was up to 50 days, whereas in pearl millet-wheat, pearl millet-mustard and fallow-mustard cropping system, the releasing of manganese was up to 30 days and thereafter the manganese release remain constant in the leachate. Maximum manganese releasing was found up to 10 days and thereafter it gradually decreased in the leachate with increased in incubation interval. Magnitude of inherent release of manganese is governed by many factors, i.e. type and amount of clay, manganese status, alternate wet and dry cycles, pH, moisture content etc. However, manganese associated with different soil textures were found in the order: Silt &gt; Clay &gt; Sand (52.8 &gt; 32.3 &gt; 14.9%) of total soil manganese, respectively. Among all cropping systems, silt and clay particles showed greater affinity towards manganese adsorption may be due to their high surface areas and nutrient retention capacity.

Comparative Study of Solid-Phase Extraction of Dissolved Organic Matter from Oilfield-Produced Brine by Different Sorbents

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) has been widely studied in streams, lakes, and oceans due to its role in biogeochemical processes, allowing it to act as a sunscreen, food source, trace metal chelator, and photosensitizer. Few studies have examined DOM in oilfield-produced water. In this study, three major types of solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents, a silica-based sorbent (ENVI-18), an active carbon (ENVI-Carb), and polymer-based sorbents (PPL, XAD resins, and HLB), were used to isolate DOM from oilfield-produced brine. Isolated SPE DOM samples were analyzed using dissolved organic carbon (DOC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Results showed that the oilfield-produced brine DOM sample was dominated by aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds. Nitrogen-containing compounds and carbohydrates were also observed; however, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and sulfur-containing compounds were relatively absent. Under acidic conditions, extraction efficiencies of DOM from oilfield-produced brine were enhanced for different SPE sorbents as follows from high to low: XAD-8/4 tandem, HLB, PPL, ENVI-18, and ENVI-Carb. DOM samples isolated by different sorbents exhibited different properties. ENVI-18 and XAD-4 DOM isolates were enriched in aliphatic hydrocarbons but devoid of aromatic compounds, XAD-8, HLB, and PPL samples contained relatively higher levels of aromatics, and HLB and PPL samples showed a high retention capacity for carbohydrates, while ENVI-Carb and HLB DOM isolates contained more nitrogen compounds than those obtained using other sorbents. In addition, XAD-8 and PPL extracts were characterized by higher concentrations of sulfur-containing compounds. This is the first study of its type to study oilfield-produced brine DOM, and the results will help us better understand their structures and properties.

Oil Spill Cleanup by Hydrophobic Natural Fibers

ABSTRACTThis article evaluates and compares on oil wetting and sorption performance of three natural fiber assemblies made by kapok, cattail and cotton fibers in application of absorbing vegetable oil. The three fibers were naturally hydrophobic and oleophilic. The water stood on the fibers’ surfaces with the contact angles between 120° and 145°, while oil droplet disappeared quickly from the fibers’ surfaces within several seconds. When applied as the oil sorbents, it was found that the three fiber assemblies showed quick oil uptake. Among them, kapok fiber assembly showed exceptionally high oil sorption and retention capacity. The presence of big hollow lumens which contributed to 77 % of the fiber’s volume was the important reason for this. Cattail fiber was bamboo-shaped. The fiber was short (3–11 mm). However, the formation of numerous of bamboo-liked lumens between neighboring fibers in cattail fiber assembly contributed to it quick oil sorption and excellent oil retention capacity, despite of relatively low oil absorbency. Although faster oil spreading comparing to kapok fibers, cotton fibers showed much lower oil absorbency and retention capacity, due to its collapsed lumens which considerably reduced its available pores for oil sorption.