Grant: Engage Grants Program
Memorial University of Newfoundland
$25,000.00
Modification and Characterization of Oclansorb® for Oil Spill Cleanup
FY 2019-20
Summary
Oil spills from drilling rigs, vehicle, vessels and pipelines can pollute ecosystems and contaminate water, causing extensive environmental and economic impacts. Oil cleanup by sorbent materials is considered as one of the most cost-effective technologies. Oclansorb®, an all-natural nontoxic sorbent made from Sphagnum peat by Hi-Point Industries Ltd (HPIL), is capable of absorbing several times its own weight of oils. However, more biomass-based sorbents are currently available in the market; Oclansorb® is facing more competition than ever. An improved product with higher sorption capacity and efficiency is therefore demanded to remain competitive in the global market. The proposed project aims to modify Oclansorb® by optimizing the preparation conditions and to characterize the key physical and chemical properties for the improved product.Design of experiments (DOE) will be employed in the proposed research to obtain the optimal thermal treatment conditions of Sphagnum peat. Effects of sorbents' structure, surface property and morphology on oil sorption capacity and oil-cleanup efficiency will be investigated by combining batch sorption tests and characterization of sorbent structure and wetting properties by BET, TGA, SEM and contact angle measurement. The proposed research aims to provide direct guidance on the development of cost-effective biomass based sorbents through the systematic optimization of the preparation conditions. The novelty of the proposed research lies in the identification of the integral impact of sorbent structure and surface wetting property on sorbent performance for oil spill cleanup.The important findings of the proposed research will be incorporated into the production of Oclansorb® directly. The proposed research will help HPIL increase the market competitiveness of Oclansorb® and boost gross sales and revenue growth. Meanwhile, this study will generate significant influence on the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for oil spill cleanup.
Program
Engage Grants Program
Recipient
Location
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
538830-2019
Name nom
Zhang, Yan
Department département
Process Engineering
Organization id
89
Institution établissement
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Province en
Newfoundland and Labrador
Province fr
Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2019
Competition year année de concours
2019
Award amount
25000
Program id
EGP
Program name en
Engage Grants Program
Program name fr
Programme de subventions d'engagement partenariat
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
1551
Committee name en
Atlantic Internal Decision Committee
Committee name fr
Comité de décision interne pour l'Atlantique
Area of application code
1002
Area of application group en
Northern development
Area of application group fr
Développement du nord
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
1800
Research subject group en
Chemical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie chimique
Research subject en
Chemical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie chimique
Installment
inst:1 - 1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Modification and Characterization of Oclansorb® for Oil Spill Cleanup
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Oil spills from drilling rigs, vehicle, vessels and pipelines can pollute ecosystems and contaminate water, causing extensive environmental and economic impacts. Oil cleanup by sorbent materials is considered as one of the most cost-effective technologies. Oclansorb®, an all-natural nontoxic sorbent made from Sphagnum peat by Hi-Point Industries Ltd (HPIL), is capable of absorbing several times its own weight of oils. However, more biomass-based sorbents are currently available in the market; Oclansorb® is facing more competition than ever. An improved product with higher sorption capacity and efficiency is therefore demanded to remain competitive in the global market. The proposed project aims to modify Oclansorb® by optimizing the preparation conditions and to characterize the key physical and chemical properties for the improved product.Design of experiments (DOE) will be employed in the proposed research to obtain the optimal thermal treatment conditions of Sphagnum peat. Effects of sorbents' structure, surface property and morphology on oil sorption capacity and oil-cleanup efficiency will be investigated by combining batch sorption tests and characterization of sorbent structure and wetting properties by BET, TGA, SEM and contact angle measurement. The proposed research aims to provide direct guidance on the development of cost-effective biomass based sorbents through the systematic optimization of the preparation conditions. The novelty of the proposed research lies in the identification of the integral impact of sorbent structure and surface wetting property on sorbent performance for oil spill cleanup.The important findings of the proposed research will be incorporated into the production of Oclansorb® directly. The proposed research will help HPIL increase the market competitiveness of Oclansorb® and boost gross sales and revenue growth. Meanwhile, this study will generate significant influence on the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for oil spill cleanup.
