Determination of the viability of an agricultural solid waste; corncob as an oil spill sorbent mop

Abstract

Solid waste management has been a serious challenge facing most nations especially the developing nations. In Nigeria most of the cities are littered with solid waste. Corn cob an agricultural waste during its season is found littered in places where they are sold. As a way of managing the waste generated by corn cob, this study was undertaken to ascertain its viability and utilization as an oil spill sorbent mop. The absorption and recoverability of crude oil and its fractions namely; petrol, kerosene and diesel was studied and compared with a standard, a conventional synthetic absorbent mat used in oil spill mop which was subjected to the same experimental condition as corn cob. The experiment was performed with crude oil and its fraction only and a mixture of crude oil and its fraction on water. The result of the study reveals that the synthetic absorbent mat absorbed about five (5) times of crude oil and its fraction more than corn cob and recovered about ten (10) of the absorbed oil more than corn cob. The synthetic absorbent mat did not absorb water while sorbing the oils on water whereas corn cob did. Increase in contact time between corn cob and the oils and synthetic absorbent mat and the oils had no effect in the quantity of oil absorbed