Equilibrium isotherms modeling of crude oil sorption from aqua mixture onto Codiaeum variegatum stem powder

Codiaeum variegatum stem powder (CVSP) was used as a low cost, readily available and biodegradable sorbent for decontamination of crude oil from aqueous solution. CVSP was characterized by the FTIR, SEM and BET techniques. The physical characterization of the crude oil showed light crude. Equilibrium isotherm of crude oil uptake was analyzed by the Langmuir, Feundlich, Tempkin, Flory-Huggins and Scatchard models. The Langmuir isotherm gave best fit with regression of 0.995 indicating a homogenous CVSP surface involving monolayer sorption of crude oil, supported by the Scatchard model analysis. The maximum monolayer uptake capacity of CVSP for crude oil was established and compared to other reported sorbents.