Technological recommendations for the use of leaf litter based adsorption material to remove an oil slick from water bodies surface

Abstract

The paper presents the study results on properties of leaf litter based adsorption material. The indicators of mixed leaf litter, characterizing it as an adsorption material, are established. Measurement of samples wetting angle with oil and water showed that the original material has hydrophobic properties. The oil intensity was about 10 g/g, and water absorption was 5-6 g/g, in addition, moisture, ash, total pore volume, bulk density were determined. Degree of water purification from oil was more than 98%, and biotest of purified water showed a decrease in toxicity 2.5 times. Based on this, technical options, are proposed for using mixed leaf litter for accidental oil spills response on the water surface with the help of mats, booms and universal design booms. Thermal combustion is proposed as a method of spent adsorption material disposal.