Organically modified zeolites in petroleum compounds spill cleanup - Production, efficiency, utilization

This study addressed the sorption of gasoline, dieselfuel, motor oil and used motor oil by various organo-zeolites. Clinoptilolite from the Sokyrnytsya deposit in Ukraine, zeolite Na-P1 synthesized from fly ash and their modifications with quaternary ammonium salts were used as adsorbents. The adsorption data shows that the materials prepared were effective in sorbing petroleum compounds, and that zeolite Na-P1 was the most efficient in the removal of petrochemicals. The absorbability of gasoline, diesel, engine oil and used engine oil occurs in the following order: Used engine oil > diesel > engine oil > gasoline. This was due to the physicochemical properties of the organic liquids especially the viscosity and density. Gasoline with the smallest viscosity and density was the least-adsorbed petroleum compound. It has been found that the texture parameters, especially the ratio of mesopores in the zeolite's structure, determined the sorption properties of the material. Zeolites after the sorption of petroleum compounds can be re-used for the removal of organic liquids after the combustion process. The sorption capacity and texture parameters did not significantly decrease after each cycle of sorption-combustion sorption. The results show that zeolite Na-P1 synthesized from fly ash is a suitable material to be used in the cleanup of petroleum compound spillages. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.