Lignin-derived carbon flake sorbent for efficient oil-water separation

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Industrialization increases oily contaminants, impacting ecosystems and economies.
• Effective oil spill remediation is crucial for environmental protection.
• Developing sustainable and efficient sorbents is a key challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-value, green sorbent for oil spill remediation.
• To utilize lignin, a renewable resource, in sorbent fabrication.
• To evaluate the performance and reusability of the developed sorbent.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of lignin-derived carbon flakes.
• Coating melamine foam with carbon flakes using lignin as a binder.
• Hydrophobicity assessment via contact angle measurements.
• Oil sorption capacity testing with various organic solvents.
• Evaluation of reusability through sorption-desorption cycles.

Main Results:

• The modified foam achieved a contact angle of 139°, indicating successful hydrophobization.
• The sorbent demonstrated high oil sorption capacities ranging from 49-105 g/g.
• Excellent reusability was confirmed through multiple sorption-desorption cycles.
• Structural stability was maintained throughout the testing.

Conclusions:

• Lignin is a viable renewable resource for creating effective, green sorbents.
• The developed lignin-based sorbent shows significant potential for oil spill remediation.
• This approach supports sustainable environmental management and circular economy principles.