Evaluación en campo de material absorbente para recogida de hidrocarburos del petróleo en agua.

Recent global environmental regulations for the dumping of oil in soils and waters have forced the application of solutions using absorbent materials. For this reason, there is a tendency to look for natural fiber materials, due to their high absorption and biodegradability. The objective of this work is to evaluate the absorption capacity of hydrocarbons in surface water of an absorbent material made from modified bagasse. To determine this capacity, tests were performed under dynamic conditions in an aqueous phase in motion (hydrophilic conditions) containing hydrocarbons (oleophilic conditions) and two tests were performed according to method (F 726-06 ASTM, 2006 for type II absorbents). The field test was carried out in the waste lagoon of a Fuel Trading Company depositing absorbent pads with a dry base weight of 4 kg. After the time of the dynamic test, they were removed and weighed. The amount of hydrocarbon absorbed was determined by the gravimetric method. The best absorption capacity was 2,24 g of hydrocarbon / 4 kg of absorbent, obtained within 24 hours of having deposited the material, these results being similar to those reflected in the literature for this type of material.