Oil Spill Removal from Water Surfaces using Zinc Ferrite Magnetic Nanoparticles as A Sorbent Material

Ibrahim Ali Amar; Sawsan Faraj; Mabroukah Abdulqadir; Ihssin   Abdalsamed; Fatima Altohami; Mohammed  Samba

doi:10.24996/ijs.2021.62.3.2

Authors

Ibrahim Ali Amar Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya
Sawsan I. Faraj Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya
Mabroukah Abdulqadir Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1674-9211
Ihssin Abdalsamed Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5573-8374
Fatima Altohami Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9513-9069
Mohammed Samba Department of Oil and Gas Engineering, Faculty of Energy and Mining Engineering, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24996/ijs.2021.62.3.2

Keywords:

Spinel ferrite nanoparticles, magnetic nanosorbent, oil sorption, gravimetric oil removal

Abstract

In this study, zinc ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (ZnFe₂O₄, ZFO MNPs) were employed as a sorbent for the removal of oil spill from water surfaces. ZFO MNPs were synthesized via a sol-gel process and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Both the apparent density and magnetic force were determined. ZFO MNPs presented a considerable magnetic force (40.22 mN) and an adequate density (0.5287 g/cm³), which are important for the magnetic separation and flotation. Four oil samples (gasoline engine oil, crude oil, used motor oil and diesel engine oil) were used to investigate the gravimetric oil removal capability of ZFO MNPs. The oil sorption capacities were found to be 23.00-6.13, 27.65-7.42, 22.62-7.01 and 30.54-9.93 g/g for crude, diesel engine, gasoline engine, and used motor oil, respectively. The current findings demonstrate that ZFO MNPs exhibit good properties (e.g., magnetic and density) and can be used as a sorbent for oil spill cleaning-up from water surfaces.