Investigation and evaluation of poly (N- butyl acrylate) for oil fractions spill removal applications

Abstract

THIS WORK is aiming at investigating the preparation and characterization of n-butyl acrylate (BA) to be used in oil spill removing applications. N-Butyl Acrylate was prepared by solution polymerization taking into account the effect of monomer concentration, polymerization time, initiator concentration, cross-linker concentration and polymerization temperature on the yield of n- butyl acrylate to optimize the polymerization conditions. Thermal analysis has been done using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in the range of 25oC to 600oC and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the range of 35oC to 400oC. The results showed that n- butyl acrylate is thermally stable to satisfy the requirements of oil spill cleanup applications. The chemical structure of n- butyl acrylate was confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared analysis (FTIR). The morphology of n- butyl acrylate that controls its ability to absorb oil spills was observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that n-butyl acrylate has the ability to absorb gasoline, kerosene, diesel, xylene, octanol and Mobil oil. Sorption capacity of the polymer in dry system, static system and dynamic system in addition to its reusability of sorbent several times were studied.