Preparation, Characterization And Performance Of Polystyrene-Based Oil-Absorbing Material

Marine oil spills seriously affect marine systems, fishing, tourism industry and so on. One of the most economical and efficient methods for the removal of oil from waters is oil sorption by sorbents. Currently, oil sorbents show low oil adsorption capacities and high water pickup, so it is urgent to explore new strategies for design and fabrication of promising oil sorbent candidates.In this paper, polystyrene-based sorbents were prepared by electrospinning process, using waste expanded polystyrene packing boxes and polystyrene plates as raw materials. The sorbents were characterized by TEM, SEM and OM. The influences of solution concentration and spinning height for electrospinning peocess were researched. The absorption properties of the sorbents were tested. The absorption mechanism of polystyrene-based sorbents was also studied. The results and conclusions are as followed:1. EPS sorbents were prepared by electrospinning process using waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) packing boxes as raw material. Optimal process parameters were solution concentration 30% (w/v), spinning height 15 cm, temperature about 20℃, relative humidity about 50%, and voltage 9~15Kv. The sorption capacities of the EPS sorbents for crude oil, motor oil, ethylene glycol, peanut oil, and diesel were 137 g/g,195 g/g,183 g/g,150 g/g and 84 g/g, respectively. The EPS sorbents showed good hydrophobicity, oleophilicity and excellent buoyancy. Spinning solution concentration affected the efficiency of electrospinng, and the absorption performance of the EPS sorbents. Spinning height affected the efficiency of electrospinning, but did not influence the absorption performance of the EPS sorbents.2. PVC/PS sorbents were prepared by electrospinning process using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) particles as raw materials. Optimal process parameters were solution concentration 30% (w/v), the mass ratio of PVC/PS 1:9, spinning height 15 cm, temperature about 20℃, relative humidity about 50%, and voltage 25~30Kv. The mass ratio of PVC/PS affected the absorption properties of the PVC/PS sorbents. When the mass ratio was 1:9, the sorption capacities of PVC/PS sorbent for motor oil, ethylene glycol, peanut oil, and diesel were 146g/g, 81g/g, 119g/g, and 38g/g, respectively. The PVC/PS sorbents showed good buoyancy.3. PS sorbents were prepared by electrospinning process using waste polystyrene (PS) plates as raw material. Optimal process parameters were solution concentration 35% (w/v), spinning height 20 cm, temperature about 20℃, relative humidity about 50%, and voltage 14~20Kv. The sorption capacities of PS sorbent for motor oil, ethylene glycol, peanut oil, and diesel were 124g/g, 98g/g, 105g/g and 48g/g, respectively. The PS sorbent showed low water pickup and high oil sorption capacity. Spinning solution concentration and spinning height both affected electrospinning efficiency.