Green Synthesis of Hydrophobic Magnetite Nanoparticles Coated with Plant Extract and Their Application as Petroleum Oil Spill Collectors

Abstract

In this study, an easy, rapid and eco-friendly method was used successfully to synthesize the magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs). In order to fine-tune the synthesized MNPs for the collection of heavy crude oil spills, the particles’ surface was modified with green hydrophobic biocomponents that were extracted from Anthemis pseudocotula (AP). The surface modified reaction carried with that of the MNPs in the presence of n-hexane extract (APH) resulted in the formation of APH-MNPs, while in the presence of chloroform extract (APC), resulted in APC-MNPs formation. The as-formed MNPs were thoroughly characterized using transmittance electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer and thermogravimetric analysis. The efficiency of the surface-modified MNPs for the collection of oil spills in the presence of an external magnetic field was evaluated by taking different ratios of MNPs:crude oil. From the analysis of the results, we found that the APH-MNPs particles have higher efficiency in the collection of heavy crude oil than the corresponding APC-MNPs.

Synthesis of Green Recyclable Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanomaterials Coated by Hydrophobic Plant Extracts for Efficient Collection of Oil Spills

“…In our previous work [17,18], MNNs were capped by using hexane and chloroform extracts. The MNNs capped by hexane extracts showed higher hydrophobicity and dispersity in nonpolar organic solvents than that capped with chloroform extracts.…”

“…Among the currently available methods, the oil spill collector’s technique has been the most applied in recent years due to its high efficiency, reusability, low cost and the ability to capture crude without dispersion into water [14,15,16]. In our previous studies, new synthesized magnetic nanomaterials (MNMs) used different natural capping agents such as asphaltene and plant extracts and applied as oil spill collectors [16,17,18]. It was noticed that the efficiency to collect heavy crude oil increased with using more hydrophobic MNMs [16,17,18].…”

“…In our previous studies, new synthesized magnetic nanomaterials (MNMs) used different natural capping agents such as asphaltene and plant extracts and applied as oil spill collectors [16,17,18]. It was noticed that the efficiency to collect heavy crude oil increased with using more hydrophobic MNMs [16,17,18].…”

Fabrication of New Demulsifiers Employing the Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate and their Demulsification Efficiency for Heavy Crude Oil Emulsions

“…Usually, commercial demulsifiers contain two or more surfactants based on the composition and type of the petroleum crude oil [ 31 ]. In recent years, different natural compounds and waste materials were modified and applied in the petroleum industries [ 10 , 11 , 21 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Reusing of these materials promotes the principles of green chemistry in the protection of environment.…”

Novel Superhydrophobic Sand and Polyurethane Sponge Coated with Silica/Modified Asphaltene Nanoparticles for Rapid Oil Spill Cleanup

“…Nowadays, the fabrication of new inexpensive materials or devices with excellent efficiency to recover the oil floating on the water surfaces at a rapid rate with selective recovery of oil over water without energy input, and the durability and reusability of such materials are the main targets for the production of valuable oil collectors. The dispersion of hydrophobic magnetic fluids in the oil spill followed by the collection of the mixture with an external magnetic field was developed to control the oil spill pollution [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. In addition, hydrophobic meshes were successfully developed as oil recovery devices to continuously separate oil from water to recover the crude oil spill from the water surface [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”