Modification and Characterization of Oclansorb® for Oil Spill Cleanup

钻井平台、车辆、船舶和管道的石油泄漏会污染生态系统和水，造成广泛的环境和经济影响。吸附剂除油被认为是最具成本效益的技术之一。Oclansorb®是由Hi-Point Industries Ltd（HPIL）从泥炭藓泥炭中制成的全天然无毒吸附剂，能够吸收数倍于其自身重量的油。然而，目前市场上有更多的生物质吸附剂; Oclansorb®面临着比以往任何时候都更多的竞争。因此，需要具有更高吸附能力和效率的改进产品以在全球市场上保持竞争力。该项目旨在通过优化制备条件对Oclansorb®进行改性，并表征改进产品的关键物理和化学性质。该研究将采用实验设计（DOE）来获得泥炭藓泥炭的最佳热处理条件。通过静态吸附试验，结合BET、TGA、SEM和接触角等表征手段，研究了吸附剂的结构、表面性质和形态对吸附容量和除油效率的影响。该研究旨在通过系统优化制备条件，为开发具有成本效益的生物质基吸附剂提供直接指导。该研究的新奇在于确定了吸附剂结构和表面润湿性对溢油清除吸附剂性能的整体影响。该研究的重要发现将直接用于Oclansorb®的生产。拟议的研究将有助于HPIL提高Oclansorb®的市场竞争力，并促进总销售额和收入增长。同时，本研究对开发经济高效、环境友好的溢油清除方法具有重要意义。

Oil spills from drilling rigs, vehicle, vessels and pipelines can pollute ecosystems and contaminate water, causing extensive environmental and economic impacts. Oil cleanup by sorbent materials is considered as one of the most cost-effective technologies. Oclansorb®, an all-natural nontoxic sorbent made from Sphagnum peat by Hi-Point Industries Ltd (HPIL), is capable of absorbing several times its own weight of oils. However, more biomass-based sorbents are currently available in the market; Oclansorb® is facing more competition than ever. An improved product with higher sorption capacity and efficiency is therefore demanded to remain competitive in the global market. The proposed project aims to modify Oclansorb® by optimizing the preparation conditions and to characterize the key physical and chemical properties for the improved product.Design of experiments (DOE) will be employed in the proposed research to obtain the optimal thermal treatment conditions of Sphagnum peat. Effects of sorbents' structure, surface property and morphology on oil sorption capacity and oil-cleanup efficiency will be investigated by combining batch sorption tests and characterization of sorbent structure and wetting properties by BET, TGA, SEM and contact angle measurement. The proposed research aims to provide direct guidance on the development of cost-effective biomass based sorbents through the systematic optimization of the preparation conditions. The novelty of the proposed research lies in the identification of the integral impact of sorbent structure and surface wetting property on sorbent performance for oil spill cleanup.The important findings of the proposed research will be incorporated into the production of Oclansorb® directly. The proposed research will help HPIL increase the market competitiveness of Oclansorb® and boost gross sales and revenue growth. Meanwhile, this study will generate significant influence on the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for oil spill cleanup.