Conversion of Fine Particle Waste of Water-Absorbents to Value-Added Oil-Absorbents

Abstract

This is a preliminary report on conversion of fine particle waste of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) hydrogels to value-added oil-absorbing organogels via a facile and green approach. Thus, SAP was hydrophobically modified with different contents of an R₄N⁺Br^– to incorporate long alkyl groups to the polymer structure. FTIR and DSC were employed to study the structural and thermal characteristics of the product. Swelling measurements verified that the SAP could be easily converted to efficient organophilic samples with absorption capacity up to 6 g/g in toluene and 4 g/g in crude oil media. Therefore, the product may be employed in environmental decontamination.

Keywords:

• Chemical modification
• crude oil
• oil-absorbent
• superabsorbent polymer

Notes

^a The swelling data are not necessarily comparable with each other due to dissimilarity of the main components and conditions of reaction particularly the crosslinker type and concentration.

^b Diluted crude oil with toluene (as solution 10%).

^c Swelling in kerosene oil.