A Simple Microwave Synthesis of Exfoliated Graphite for Spilled Heavy Oils Removal

Abstract

In recent times, there has been a growing interest in the development of carbon-based absorbent materials for handling oil spills. This attention is primarily due to their advantageous characteristics such as low cost, high surface area, porous structure, natural abundance, and environmental friendliness. In this study, we introduce a straightforward and cost-effective method for producing exfoliated graphite (EG) as an absorbent material. This method involves the utilization of diluted perchloric acid and hydrogen peroxide, followed by microwave irradiation, resulting in a rapid synthesis process. The EG material obtained through this approach demonstrates exceptional adsorption capabilities across a wide range of oil types, including kerosene and engine oil. The adsorption efficiency for kerosene and engine oil was found to be 96% and 99%, respectively, using just 1 gram of EG. Moreover, we discovered that a combination of exfoliated graphite with a weight ratio of 1:2:1 resulted in an increased maximum volume of 570 mL/g. These findings highlight the high yield achieved in this present study compared to previous research efforts.