Adsorption Performance of Modified Sponge Gourd for Crude Oil Removal

Abstract

This study determined the adsorption ability of modified sponge gourd fibre in adsorbing crude oil from simulated oil-water mixture. Modification was done on the adsorbent by treating with hot water and sodium hydroxide. The dependence of the adsorption process on particle size of the fibre was determined using mesh sizes of 4.75, 2.36, 1.18 and 0.85 mm. The hot water treatment significantly increased the adsorbing ability of the sponge gourd, removing 83.3% of the crude oil from the mixture, alkaline treated sample removed 45.1% and the raw sample removed 22.9%. The result of the SEM images shows that hot water treated sample has more pores on the surface which influenced the better performance. The FTIR results obtained after the adsorption show the successful adsorption of crude oil on to the surface of the sponge gourd due to the presence of functional groups characteristics of groups found in crude oil. An optimum particle size for the sponge gourd was found to exist at the value of 1.18 mm, above and below which the crude oil removed was reduced. The modification of sponge gourd promoted the adsorption capacity for crude oil.