The Evaluation of Kenaf an Oil Sorbent
Catherine E. Goforth
Research has determined that kenaf plant fines, milled fines, and milled core have exceptional absorption properties. For this reason, kenaf may possibly be used as oil sorbents in industrial
socks, pillows, booms, or floor sweeps.
Researchers at the Milsaps Sorbent and Environmental Laboratory in Jackson, Mississippi, compared the absorption performances of kitty litter, peat moss, and various types
of polypropylene fabrics to kenaf materials. To determine the levelof sorbency, these materials were tested in diesel fuel, lightweight crude petroleum, and heavyduty crude petroleum.
The results indicate that
the most efficient kenaf materials are the kenaf plant fines, which are essentially the particles from the separation process, and milled fines, which are the core that has been hammermilled. The two polypropylene
fabrics used in this study had the highest sorption rates of the materials tested. However, in the light crude test, the sorbency of the kenaf plant fines (11.98 g) was greater than the poorer polypropylene fabric
(9.81 g) and is within the same range as the better polypropylene fabric (16.61 g). This is an important discovery since polypropylene has become a standard in industriasituations. The kenaf plant fines performed
better than all other kenaf materials in the diesel, light crude, and heavy crude tests (Tables 1, 2, and 3). Both the kenaf plant fines and milled fines performed better than peat moss and kitty litter in all
tests. The greatest difference was found in the light crude test (Table 2).
Kenaf plant fines consist of pores that not only sorb oil but also prevent the oil from leaking after absorption. This property will be
very important to industries because of great concerns regarding waste minimization in industrial settings.
Milled core kenaf was compared to extruded kenaf. The milled core was determined to perform better than
extruded kenaf in all three tests (Tables 1, 2, and 3). Extruded kenaf does not sorb as well as other kenaf materials because of reduced porosity. The extrusion process compacts the pores; therefore, the pores are
unable to sorb oil easily.
The results of the study conclude that kenaf plant fines and kenaf milled fines are excellent sorbent materials, both of which are comparable to sorbent materials that are currently
used in industrial settings. Also, milled core is very comparable to currently used floor sweep products.
Kenaf shows definite potential for use in socks, booms, and pillows because of its absorption and
retention properties. These properties will be beneficial in helping to manage the handling of industrial waste.
Reference
Millsaps Sorbent and Environmental Laboratory. Research Report: Kenaf Project,
Mississippi State University. December 30, 1992.
Table 1. Comparison of sorbents in #2 Diesel.
Medium adsorbed
Product per gram of sorbent
Milled Core 1 2.11 g
Milled Core 2 4.39 g
Milled Fines 5.54 g
Fines 7.02 g
Screened Ext. Core .77 g
Screened Ext. Fines 1.82 g
Peat Moss 3.50 g
Kitty Litter .44 g
Polypropylene + 13.16 g
Polypropylene 9.22 g
Table 2. Comparison of sorbents in T102 Light Crude Oil.
Medium adsorbed
Product per gram of sorbent
Milled Core 1 2.44 g
Milled Core 2 5.87 g
Milled Fines 6.92 g
Fines 11.98 g
Screened Ext. Core 1.08 g
Screened Ext. Fines 2.23 g
Peat Moss 3.48 g
Kitty Litter .451 g
Polypropylene + 16.61 g
Polypropylene 9.81 g
Table 3. Comparison of sorbents in T201 Heavy Crude Oil.
Medium adsorbed
Product per gram of sorbent
Milled Core 1 1.87 g
Milled Core 2 2.90 g
Milled Fines 1.64 g
Fines 5.00 g
Screened Ext. Core 1.50 g
Screened Ext. Fines 1.19 g
Peat Moss 1.23 g
Kitty Litter .312 g
Polypropylene + 15.21 g
Polypropylene 9.81 g
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Catherine E. Goforth is a Graduate Research Assistant, Department of
Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University.
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