Preparation and Evaluation of Oil Sorbent Materials for Treatment of Hydrocarbons Spillage in Fresh Water

Abstract

The present workinclude thepreparation of new oil sorbents for remediation of environmental pollution caused by petroleum oil spills. This work accomplished by the preparation of a new macromonomer namely, Poly (styrene-co-p-chloromethyl styrene) (PSCMS) by emulsion polymerization method. PSCMS was utilized to react with acrylic acid to produce macromonomer containing polymerizable C=C poly {styrene-co-[4-(methyl acrylate) styrene]} (PSSMA). PSSMA was copolymerized with three kindes of alkyl acrylate monomers, ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), lauryl methacrylate (LMA), and octadecyl acrylate (ODA) and in the presence of BPO as free radical intiator and two types of crosslinkers divinyl benzene (DVB) and methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) to produce cross-linked copolymers. The cross-linked copolymers were evaluated as oil sorbent using 4 types of organic solvents (DMF,chloroform, toluene and diesel) and then the swelling parameters and swelling kinetics were also calculated.