The possibilities of using low-cost fibrous natural materials as sorbents for removing aliphatic hydrocarbons (C6-C15) from an aqueous solution

Sorption of oil-related products (including mainly the propellants) is the basic process that coun-teracts spreading these types of pollution into the environment. Plenty of synthetic substances (including multi-component petroleum products) must be removed both from the fresh and ground-water. The aim of this study was to compare the possibilities of using natural fibrous materials (also weed or waste materials): broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia L.) seeds, peat and coconut fiber as sorbents of aliphatic hydrocarbons from an aqueous solution. In order to increase sorptive capacity, tested materials were mercerized in hot (80°C) NaOH for sorption properties improvement. The removal of alip…