Application of Low-Cost Sorbent for Oil Spill Sorption Using Response Surface Methodological Approach

Abstract

The paper deals with oil spill clean-up using peat as low-cost sorbent material. Light fuel oil of regional production has been used in all experiments as the representative petroleum product. The design of experiments and response sur-face methodological approach has been used for the investigation of sorption process. A regression equation (response surface model) has been proposed for the prediction of removal efficiency as a function of design variables (factors), i.e., sorbent dosage, drainage time and initial thickness of oil slick on water. A very good agreement between the experimental data and response surface model has been found. The linkage between the removal efficiency and factors has been illustrated via response surface plots and contour lines maps. Based on the regres-sion equation the maximal removal efficiency has been found by optimization.