This study investigated the effectiveness of various porous materials (birch bark, cork, glass wool, and polyurethane foam) in removing petroleum substances from water. Both static and dynamic methods were employed, using model water with different concentrations of petrol and diesel fuel. Results indicated that birch bark and glass wool consistently outperformed cork and polyurethane foam in reducing mineral oil index and n-alkane concentrations. The removal efficiency for n-alkanes was notably higher than that of the mineral oil index across all materials and methods tested.
Additional Information
The purpose of the research was to remove petroleum substances from water using porous materials. Birch bark, cork, glass wool and polyurethane foam were used for the study. The model solution was distilled water enriched with a mixture of petrol and diesel fuel in a volume ratio of 1:3. The model water used had 3 different concentrations of oil substances. The research included petroleum substances expressed as mineral oil index and aliphatic hydrocarbons, n-alkanes (from C7H16 to C38H78). The process of oil substances removal was carried out applying two methods: static and dynamic. Based on the research, it was found that materials the most effective in lowering the index of mineral oil and C7H16–C38H78 n-alkane concentrations were both birch bark and glass wool, both static and dynamic, while cork and polyurethane foam were less effective. In addition, concentration of C7H16–C38H78 n-alkanes was lowered in each measurement series to a greater extent than the mineral oil index.