Popped Rice Biochar and Superhydrophobic SiO2/Popped Rice Biochar for Oil Adsorption

A novel biochar, whose precursor is popped rice, was produced to remove oil pollution in water. Popped rice biochar is characteristic with large pores. When popped rice was carbonized at 300 degrees C, its oil absorption capacity for paraffin oil is up to 10.88 +/- 0.51 g/g, being much higher than that of the original popped rice (4.03 +/- 0.39 g/g). In order to improve the oil-water separation property of popped rice biochar to absorb oil selectively, epoxy resin was used as a binder to make superhydrophobic SiO(2)coated on the surface of popped rice biochar. The water contact angle of superhydrophobic SiO2/ popped rice biochar is 153 +/- 0.9 degrees, and it has good oil-absorption capacity with low water-absorption ratio. As the oil-absorption material is environmentally friendly, it will be a good select for the removal of oil pollution.

Automated summary

A novel biochar made from popped rice was developed for oil pollution removal in water, showing high oil absorption capacity and excellent oil-water separation property with environmentally friendly characteristics.