Regeneration of mesoporous silica aerogel for hydrocarbon adsorption and recovery

Silica aerogel, with mesoporous structure and high hydrophobicity, is a promising adsorbent for oil spill clean-up. To make it economic and environmental-friendly, hydrocarbon desorption and silica aerogel regeneration were investigated. After hydrocarbon desorption at 80°C, silica aerogel maintained its hydrophobicity. After toluene, petrol, and diesel desorption, shrinkage of mesopores (from 19.9 to 16.8, 13.5, and 13.4nm) of silica aerogels occurred, causing decreased adsorption capacities (from 12.4, 11.2, and 13.6 to 12.0, 6.5, and 2.3g/g). Low surface tension of petrol caused high stress on mesopores during its desorption, resulting in significant pore shrinkage. For diesel, its incomplete desorption and oxidation further hindered the regeneration. Therefore, diesel desorption was also conducted at 200°C. Severe diesel oxidation occurred under aerobic condition and destroyed the mesopores. Under anaerobic condition, no diesel oxidation occurred and the decreases in pore size (to 13.2nm) and adsorption efficiency (to 10.0g/g) of regenerated silica aerogels were much less, compared with under aerobic condition. This study provided new insights on silica aerogel regeneration for oil spill clean-up.