New magnetic polyurethane hybrid composite for oil sorption

The new polyurethane/cellulose acetate/magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles composites synthesised presented potential for use as sorbents of mineral oil. The composite synthesised in homogeneous medium in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles presented higher oil sorption capacity than composite synthesised in heterogeneous medium for all analysed conditions, and the values obtained, 9.6 +/- 0.1 and 12.2 +/- 0.5 grams of oil per gram of sorbent, wet and dry dynamic media, respectively, were comparable to those exhibited by commercial products. In addition, the magnetite facilitates the separation of the composite after the sorption process by external magnetic field.