Modified Cotton Sorbent for Removing Crude Oil Pollution From Water: Sorption Kinetic Study

Abstract

This research marks an advancement in the field of environmental remediation by introducing a novel sorbent material tailored for the efficient removal of crude oil from industrial wastewater. By focusing on the modification of cotton fibers with charcoal and bentonite, the study addresses the pressing need for sustainable solutions to oil contamination in aquatic environments. Through a comprehensive array of characterization techniques including FT‐IR, TGA, XRD, SEM, EDS, and BET analysis, the structural and surface properties of the modified materials were thoroughly examined, providing insights into their suitability for practical applications. Sorption studies conducted to determine sorption capacity, optimize sorbent amount, and evaluate the effect of contact time on removal efficiency yielded favorable results, highlighting the potential of the developed sorbents to effectively treat crude oil in aqueous solutions. Additionally, the investigation of sorption kinetics using pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, and intra‐particle diffusion models elucidated the underlying adsorption mechanisms governing the interaction between the sorbent and crude oil molecules. These findings not only contribute to the scientific understanding of sorption processes but also offer practical guidance for the development of optimized sorbent materials and remediation strategies. Overall, this study represents a significant step toward the development of cost‐effective and environmentally friendly methods for oil spill cleanup and industrial wastewater treatment, with implications for sustainable water management practices worldwide. Continued research efforts in this direction hold promise for further advancements in the field, potentially leading to more efficient and scalable solutions for addressing the global challenge of oil contamination in water environments.