Corrective Removal of Pollutant from Contaminated Crude Oil Using Green Synthesized Activated Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

The expanding global economy led to a continuous rise in transportation and the use of crude oil. The crude oil spill has been deemed a significant threat to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This paper aim to synthesize Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and evaluate their potentials for removing crude oil spills. The research focuses on two parameters: adsorbent dosage and contact time. It investigated the adsorption of crude oil utilizing synthesized carbon nanotubes (CNT) derived from coconut shell. The investigation was conducted using batch adsorption, with the adsorbent dosage and contact time being varied as factors. The carbon nanotubes (CNT) that were synthesized were examined using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (Uv-Vis), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) methods. The results revealed that the produced carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were within the nanoscale and have a high ratio of surface area to mass, indicating exceptional crystallinity. The morphological alteration greatly enhanced the hydrophobic nature of the adsorbent, resulting in the synthesis of a carbon nanotube (CNT) with dramatically improved crude oil adsorption capacity, reaching a maximum of 4855.8 mg/g. The experimental findings revealed a direct relationship between the quantity of adsorbent used and the percentage of crude oil that was eliminated. Likewise, a greater duration of contact resulted in a higher percentage of crude oil being removed. Carbon nanotubes synthesized, offer an excellent structure for effectively purifying contaminated crude oil.