Leaves and Roots of Pistia stratiotes as Sorbent Materials for the Removal of Crude Oil from Saline Solutions
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Leaves and Roots of Pistia stratiotes as Sorbent Materials for the Removal of Crude Oil from Saline Solutions Gloria Sánchez-Galván & Francisco J. Mercado & Eugenia J. Olguín
Received: 18 July 2012 / Accepted: 18 December 2012 # Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
Abstract The removal and sorption of oil from saline solutions by leaves (L) and roots (R) of Pistia stratiotes are described for the first time. The effects of biomass dose (0.5 and 1.0 g), contact time (30, 60, 90, and 120 min), and initial oil concentration (IOC=979± 9.82, 1,968±8.01, 3,935±40.09, 7,778±196.42, and 15,694±196.41 mgL−1) on removal and sorption (q) were evaluated. Studies included a physicochemical characterization of the biomass. High oil removal (L= 93.71 ± 0.18 % and R = 80.93 ± 0.11 %) and sorption values (L=2,904.47±4.49 mgg−1 and R= 2,324.38±29.29 mgg−1) were found. Such a high sorption might be related to factors such as a high surface area (128.38±0.61 and 112.62±5.17 m2 g−1, for leaves and roots, respectively), a high degree of relative hydrophobicity in the case of the leaves (71.05 ± 0.71 %), and capillary action. A high correlation was found between IOC and sorption, suggesting that the biomass could adsorb oil at IOCs higher than 15,694± 196.41 mgL−1. The Freundlich isotherm model was found to best describe crude oil sorption by leaves and roots of P. stratiotes. These sorbent materials could be good candidates to be used during an oil spill.
G. Sánchez-Galván (*) : F. J. Mercado : E. J. Olguín Environmental Biotechnology Research Group, Institute of Ecology, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec # 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, Mexico e-mail: [email protected]
Keywords Oil spills . Hydrocarbons . Macrophytes . Biosorbents . Isotherms
1 Introduction Crude oil is the most important source of energy and raw material worldwide. However, exploration, transportation, and storage of oil, in many cases, result in spills causing serious environmental consequences. The adverse effects on ecosystems and the long-term effects of environmental pollution caused by oil spills require the development of a wide range of technologies for removing oil from soil and water. Sorption is one of the most efficient options for the recovery of oil from water in response to marine oil spills (Wei et al. 2003). Oil-sorbent materials can be classified into three major groups: (a) inorganic mineral materials (zeolites, silica, perlite, graphite, vermiculites, sorbent clay, and diatomite), (b) synthetic organic products (polyurethane foams, polypropylene, polyester, etc.), and (c) natural organic materials (Cojocaru et al. 2011). Inorganic mineral materials have a low sorption capacity and inadequate buoyance properties. Synthetic organic products, on the other hand, have high sorption capacity, due to their low density, low water uptake, and excellent physical and chemical resistance. However, they are not biodegradable, and their decomposition is low after usage (Annunciado et al. 2005). Research has been conducted on oil sorpt
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