Possibility of Using Natural Zeolite Waste Granules Obtained by Pressure Agglomeration as a Sorbent for Petroleum Substances from Paved Surfaces

Abstract

Increasing incidents of oil spills and dynamic development of civilization are driving the demand for sorbents. The production of the overwhelming majority of mineral sorbents involves the highly energy-consuming calcination process with CO2 emissions impacting the environment. Taking into account the environmental issues related to greenhouse gas emissions, we are in urgent need of green products and green technologies. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of using natural zeolite dust waste to produce oil sorbents in non-calcination technology. The main advantage of the proposed solution is reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and transformation of the waste material into green, useful product. The scope of the research covered the experimental tests for compaction of the zeolite material from Ukraine and Slovakia in a roller press with different type of binding agent and the performance tests for assessing the suitability of the produced agglomerates as a petroleum sorbent. In order to evaluate the agglomerates’ properties, textural-structural analysis (optical microscopy, SEM microscopy, and low-temperature N2 sorption), petroleum sorption (Westinghouse method), and physical-mechanical tests (resistance to gravitational drop, abrasion resistance) were carried out. Properties of the manufactured agglomerates were studied in comparison to commercial sorbent DAMSORB, commonly used in Poland. The test results showed that it is doable to produce the effective surface oil-spill sorbent from zeolite waste dust in a roller press by applying the relevant binding agent. The main finding of this study was that optimum feed composition for dry granulation that provides the granular sorbent with the best properties was established: 6% of C binder and moisture content within a narrow range of 20–20.6%. The C-1 sorbent achieved the highest and closely comparable to commercial sorbent parameters of petroleum sorption and drop strength, which are key points of this study. The absorption efficiency of petroleum substances for C-1 sorbent is 8% lower than that of a commercial sorbent, and resistance to gravitational drop is lower by only 3%. However, commercial sorbent exhibited better abrasion resistance compared to produced agglomerates, which is a compelling reason to continue the research in order to enhance the abrasion performance of the manufactured granules. The effectiveness of the dust consolidation method carried out was proved by textural parameters of the obtained zeolite-based sorbents. Specific surface area (SBET) of B-2 (SBET = 28.1 m2/g) and C-2 (SBET = 28.3 m2/g) sorbents was very similar to the commercial sorbent (SBET = 28.1 m2/g). Interestingly, all granules produced from clinoptilolite dust from Slovakia (A-2, B-2, C-2) achieved an increase of 19%, 33%, and 35%, respectively, in volume of mesopores, compared to the commercial sorbent. Moreover, the presented granulation technology favorably affected the size of the specific surface area as well as volume and surface area of mesopores in the case of obtained zeolite-based sorbent A-1 and B-1, compared with the starting raw material. Zeolite-based sorbent A-1 and B-1 achieved an increase of 17% and 18%, respectively, in specific area surface and an increase of 35% and 12%, respectively, in mesopores volume, compared with the raw material. Finally, the results of this investigation proved that it is possible to produce the efficient oil sorbent in a much more eco-friendly and green way, compared with that of the commercial sorbent.

Swelling and removal of metal in zeolit alam lampung (ZAL) using a swelling agent C15H32

“…SEM results show that the surface of ZAL Swelling tends to be smoother and larger clumps that are brighter than before, indicating the occurrence of swelling, desilica, dealumination, and removal of alkali and alkaline earth metals and transition metals [50]. This is due to the effect of the swelling agent C15H32 on the weakening of ionic particles followed by bond breaking [51][52][53][54][55] and removes most of the constituent compounds of ZAL which leads to restructured swelling in the ZAL Swelling crystals.…”

Special Issue: Advancement of Functionalized Mineral Materials and Rock

“…The physical and mechanical behaviour, fracture, damage, and evolution processes of geomaterials under various environmental and mechanical conditions, such as thermal, mechanical, chemical, and electrical environments [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]20,21].…”

“…This Special Issue covers numerous aspects of functional mineral research. These topics focus on various themes, including the analysis of mineralogical composition and its effects on the physico-mechanical properties of geomaterials, the investigation of the impact of triaxial stress on the damage creep behaviour of geomaterials, and the evaluation of the thermophysical and mechanical characteristics of rocks under high-temperature circumstances [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. The research conducted on these topics also involves various experimental and numerical techniques, such as digital image processing, Discrete Element Method (DEM), and analytical solution and simulation [13,[15][16][17][18].…”

“…The research conducted on these topics also involves various experimental and numerical techniques, such as digital image processing, Discrete Element Method (DEM), and analytical solution and simulation [13,[15][16][17][18]. Moreover, several research studies have explored the feasibility of utilising organic waste materials, including red mud, bauxite tailings, and zeolite, as prospective building materials or sorbents to eliminate petroleum substances from paved surfaces [8,14,19].…”

“…Without the energy-intensive calcination procedure, Pabiś-Mazgaj et al [14] demonstrated that creating an effective zeolite-based granular petroleum sorbent from waste dust is possible. The team utilised pressure agglomeration to create sorbent agglomerates that met the minimum weight requirement of 50% for oil absorbency efficacy.…”