Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Enhanced Hydrophobicity and Oleophilicity of Modified Activated Carbons Derived from Agro-Wastes Biomass for the Removal of Crude Oil from Aqueous Medium

Received: 2 June 2024     Accepted: 18 September 2024     Published: 29 September 2024
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Abstract

Crude oil spillage has tremendous environmental impacts and poses severe pollution problems worldwide due to the continuous activities and operations in the oil and gas sector. This has resulted in the urgent need for clean-up techniques such as the use of natural adsorbents which is considered a relatively low-cost, readily-available, efficient, eco-friendly, and easy-to-deploy mode of addressing oil spillage due to its high oil sorption capacity/efficiency, high oil selectivity, oleophilic, enduring, reusability and biodegradable properties. Empty palm fruit bunch and coconut coir were used as precursors to produce activated carbons for oil spill remediation. The influence of varying parameters was investigated using a batch experimental procedure resulting in the crude oil adsorption capacity increasing with a corresponding increase in contact time, initial oil concentration, temperature, agitation speed, and particle size but decreasing in adsorbent dosage. The combination of surface morphological modification and hydrophobicity enhancement resulted in significantly improved adsorption capacity for crude oil removal (2710.0 mg/g and 4859.5 mg/g for EPFBACLA and CCACL.A respectively), as evidenced by both FTIR and SEM analyses. The experimental isotherm data were analysed using various isotherm models and the best-fitted isotherm model was the Freundlich model with a correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.991 and R2 = 0.999) for EPFBL.A and CCACL.A respectively. The kinetic behaviour of the adsorption process was best described by pseudo-second order with R2 values of 0.970 and 0.999 for EPFBACLA and CCACL.A respectively while Boyd model revealed that the adsorption was controlled by an internal transport mechanism and film diffusion was the rate-limiting step. The crude oil adsorption was chemisorption and endothermic owing to the positive enthalpy values (ΔHo = 183.890 KJ/mol for EPFBACL.A and ΔHo = 69.656 KJ/mol for CCACL.A), the positive value of entropy suggested that the adsorption process was accompanied by an increase in the degree of randomness or disorder at the interface between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. A temperature rise led to a decline in Gibbs energy (ΔGo), suggesting that adsorption became more feasible and spontaneous at higher temperatures and the significant activation energies indicated the existence of a substantial energy barrier that must be overcome to initiate the reaction. The results showed the significant capability of the prepared adsorbents to be used as a low-cost, re-generable and eco-friendly adsorbent in oil spill clean-up and is recommended to exploit its usage on a large scale.

Published in American Journal of Chemical Engineering (Volume 12, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11
Page(s) 80-96
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Wastewater Treatment, Biomass Waste Management, Adsorption Capacity, Crude Oil Spillage, Activated Carbon

References
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    Abel, U. A., Ekanem, O. G., Oseribho, O. I., Isotuk, U. R., Job, A. I., et al. (2024). Enhanced Hydrophobicity and Oleophilicity of Modified Activated Carbons Derived from Agro-Wastes Biomass for the Removal of Crude Oil from Aqueous Medium. American Journal of Chemical Engineering, 12(4), 80-96. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11

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    ACS Style

    Abel, U. A.; Ekanem, O. G.; Oseribho, O. I.; Isotuk, U. R.; Job, A. I., et al. Enhanced Hydrophobicity and Oleophilicity of Modified Activated Carbons Derived from Agro-Wastes Biomass for the Removal of Crude Oil from Aqueous Medium. Am. J. Chem. Eng. 2024, 12(4), 80-96. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11

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    Abel UA, Ekanem OG, Oseribho OI, Isotuk UR, Job AI, et al. Enhanced Hydrophobicity and Oleophilicity of Modified Activated Carbons Derived from Agro-Wastes Biomass for the Removal of Crude Oil from Aqueous Medium. Am J Chem Eng. 2024;12(4):80-96. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11,
      author = {Ukpong Anwana Abel and Otu Gabriel Ekanem and Oboh Innocent Oseribho and Uzono Romokere Isotuk and Akwayo Iniobong Job and Inyang Udeme Ibanga},
      title = {Enhanced Hydrophobicity and Oleophilicity of Modified Activated Carbons Derived from Agro-Wastes Biomass for the Removal of Crude Oil from Aqueous Medium
    },
      journal = {American Journal of Chemical Engineering},
      volume = {12},
      number = {4},
      pages = {80-96},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajche.20241204.11},
      abstract = {Crude oil spillage has tremendous environmental impacts and poses severe pollution problems worldwide due to the continuous activities and operations in the oil and gas sector. This has resulted in the urgent need for clean-up techniques such as the use of natural adsorbents which is considered a relatively low-cost, readily-available, efficient, eco-friendly, and easy-to-deploy mode of addressing oil spillage due to its high oil sorption capacity/efficiency, high oil selectivity, oleophilic, enduring, reusability and biodegradable properties. Empty palm fruit bunch and coconut coir were used as precursors to produce activated carbons for oil spill remediation. The influence of varying parameters was investigated using a batch experimental procedure resulting in the crude oil adsorption capacity increasing with a corresponding increase in contact time, initial oil concentration, temperature, agitation speed, and particle size but decreasing in adsorbent dosage. The combination of surface morphological modification and hydrophobicity enhancement resulted in significantly improved adsorption capacity for crude oil removal (2710.0 mg/g and 4859.5 mg/g for EPFBACLA and CCACL.A respectively), as evidenced by both FTIR and SEM analyses. The experimental isotherm data were analysed using various isotherm models and the best-fitted isotherm model was the Freundlich model with a correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.991 and R2 = 0.999) for EPFBL.A and CCACL.A respectively. The kinetic behaviour of the adsorption process was best described by pseudo-second order with R2 values of 0.970 and 0.999 for EPFBACLA and CCACL.A respectively while Boyd model revealed that the adsorption was controlled by an internal transport mechanism and film diffusion was the rate-limiting step. The crude oil adsorption was chemisorption and endothermic owing to the positive enthalpy values (ΔHo = 183.890 KJ/mol for EPFBACL.A and ΔHo = 69.656 KJ/mol for CCACL.A), the positive value of entropy suggested that the adsorption process was accompanied by an increase in the degree of randomness or disorder at the interface between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. A temperature rise led to a decline in Gibbs energy (ΔGo), suggesting that adsorption became more feasible and spontaneous at higher temperatures and the significant activation energies indicated the existence of a substantial energy barrier that must be overcome to initiate the reaction. The results showed the significant capability of the prepared adsorbents to be used as a low-cost, re-generable and eco-friendly adsorbent in oil spill clean-up and is recommended to exploit its usage on a large scale.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Enhanced Hydrophobicity and Oleophilicity of Modified Activated Carbons Derived from Agro-Wastes Biomass for the Removal of Crude Oil from Aqueous Medium
    
    AU  - Ukpong Anwana Abel
    AU  - Otu Gabriel Ekanem
    AU  - Oboh Innocent Oseribho
    AU  - Uzono Romokere Isotuk
    AU  - Akwayo Iniobong Job
    AU  - Inyang Udeme Ibanga
    Y1  - 2024/09/29
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11
    T2  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    SP  - 80
    EP  - 96
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8613
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20241204.11
    AB  - Crude oil spillage has tremendous environmental impacts and poses severe pollution problems worldwide due to the continuous activities and operations in the oil and gas sector. This has resulted in the urgent need for clean-up techniques such as the use of natural adsorbents which is considered a relatively low-cost, readily-available, efficient, eco-friendly, and easy-to-deploy mode of addressing oil spillage due to its high oil sorption capacity/efficiency, high oil selectivity, oleophilic, enduring, reusability and biodegradable properties. Empty palm fruit bunch and coconut coir were used as precursors to produce activated carbons for oil spill remediation. The influence of varying parameters was investigated using a batch experimental procedure resulting in the crude oil adsorption capacity increasing with a corresponding increase in contact time, initial oil concentration, temperature, agitation speed, and particle size but decreasing in adsorbent dosage. The combination of surface morphological modification and hydrophobicity enhancement resulted in significantly improved adsorption capacity for crude oil removal (2710.0 mg/g and 4859.5 mg/g for EPFBACLA and CCACL.A respectively), as evidenced by both FTIR and SEM analyses. The experimental isotherm data were analysed using various isotherm models and the best-fitted isotherm model was the Freundlich model with a correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.991 and R2 = 0.999) for EPFBL.A and CCACL.A respectively. The kinetic behaviour of the adsorption process was best described by pseudo-second order with R2 values of 0.970 and 0.999 for EPFBACLA and CCACL.A respectively while Boyd model revealed that the adsorption was controlled by an internal transport mechanism and film diffusion was the rate-limiting step. The crude oil adsorption was chemisorption and endothermic owing to the positive enthalpy values (ΔHo = 183.890 KJ/mol for EPFBACL.A and ΔHo = 69.656 KJ/mol for CCACL.A), the positive value of entropy suggested that the adsorption process was accompanied by an increase in the degree of randomness or disorder at the interface between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. A temperature rise led to a decline in Gibbs energy (ΔGo), suggesting that adsorption became more feasible and spontaneous at higher temperatures and the significant activation energies indicated the existence of a substantial energy barrier that must be overcome to initiate the reaction. The results showed the significant capability of the prepared adsorbents to be used as a low-cost, re-generable and eco-friendly adsorbent in oil spill clean-up and is recommended to exploit its usage on a large scale.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria

  • Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria

  • Department of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria

  • Department of Mechanical Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Nigeria

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