USE OF WHEAT HUSK AS A NATURAL SORPTION MATERIAL FOR OIL SPILL RESPONSE

LGVFAO

Abstract

Oil extraction and refining are accompanied by significant environmental risks, including oil spills that lead to pollution of water bodies and soil. The relevance of the research is determined by the need to develop environmentally safe and cost-effective methods of oil pollution elimination. The aim of the work was to study the effectiveness of wheat husk as a sorption material for the elimination of spilled oil. To improve the sorption properties, the natural polymer was modified with 1 % sulphuric acid solution.

Sorption characteristics of native and modified samples of wheat husk were studied. It was found that treatment with sulfuric acid increases the specific surface area of the material from 5.8±2.8 to 8.0±1.5 m²/g and pore volume from 1.52±0.1 to 2.76±0.1 cm³/g. The sorption capacity of modified wheat husk was 6.35 g/g, which was 20 % higher than that of native samples (5.23 g/g). In removing oil film from the water surface, the modified SW showed an efficiency of 99.31 %, whereas the native showed an efficiency of 96.96 %.

Experiments on phytotoxicity showed that water treated with modified wheat husk had a toxicity index of 0.1, which is lower than that of polluted water (0.2). The possibility of wheat husk application for soil purification from oil pollution was also investigated. It was found that the use of sorbent reduces the evaporation of light fractions of oil by 50 % and reduces the negative impact on plant growth.

The obtained results demonstrate that the use of wheat husk as a sorbent not only effectively solves the problem of oil pollution, but also contributes to the utilization of agricultural waste, which corresponds to the principles of circular eco-economy and sustainable development.