Modification, Characterization and Use of Imperata cylindrical (Toofa) Fibre as Oil Sorbent

The effect of Acetylation on Imperata cylindrical fibre using acetic anhydride was investigated. The acetylation was carried out in a free solvent system under mild conditions using acetic anhydride in the presence of calcium chloride as a catalyst at a temperature of 100°C for 3 hour. The crude oil and the Imperata cylindrical sorbent were characterized, the sorption behaviors studied were found to increase with increase in weight per gain percent (WPG%). The WPG% and oil sorption capacity indicated the success of acetylation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used for the analysis of unmodified and modified Imperata cylindrical sorbent to further examine the success of acetylation. In the spectra of FT-IR of the acetylated Imperata cylindrical material evidence of acetylation is clearly proven by, the enhancement of 1755 cm-1, as 1755.31-1715.97 cm-1 which are carbonyl C=O stretching of esters, the enhancement of 1494.97 -1403.35 cm-1 of (C-H bond in –O(C=O)-CH3 and the appearance of 1154.69- 1154.43 cm-1 which is a C=O stretching of acetyl group. The values for correlation coefficient (R2) showed that the model fitted the Langmuir isotherm (R2 Imperata cylindrical 1.00) better than the Freundlich isotherm, indicating that the adsorption process was monolayer. The higher oil sorption capacity shown by the modified Imperata cylindrical sorbent compared to the lower oil sorption capacity of unmodified, indicated that the modified Imperata cylindrical sorbent can substitute for synthetic fibres and recommended for oils spill clean-up in contaminated environments.