Post-consumer polyurethane foam modifications for oil sorption in seawater
oil spill, environment, sorption, fluid dynamics, hydrophobization
Exploration, transport and refining of petroleum are essential for the global economy. Unfortunately, these processes can lead to oil spills over the ocean. Immediate leak containment and remediation are crucial to prevent the oil from being carried to the coasts by wind and waves. The current approach uses booms to surround the spill and a skimmer to capture the oil floating inside. However, this equipment may have low separation efficiency in rough sea conditions, as it might catch a large volume of water along with the oil. In this context, this work aims to present the research that has been carried out using post-consumer chemically modified polyurethane foams for the sorption of oil spilled at sea. Such modifications consist of using non-polar materials to simultaneously promote the oil affinity and hydrophobicity of the foams, enhancing their selectivity for oils over water. In addition, the suggested modifications also aim to increase the retention capacity of the sorbed oil, which is a fundamental characteristic in the sorption of oil in rough seas.