Experimental Investigation on Using Jute Fibre/Coir Fibre Blend Material as a Replacement for Polypropylene for Oil Spill Cleanup

Crude oil is generally one of the most important raw materials and energy sources worldwide. The accidental discharge of oil into the environment during production, transportation, refining, tanker accidents, sabotage and oil bunkering causes adverse effects on aquatic life and human economic activities. The current challenge is to produce effective materials that are environmentally friendly from bio-based resources to replace the synthetic sorbents which are hazardous to the ecosystem integrity and non-biodegradable. This research explored the potential of using a blend of jute and coir fibres as a substitute for polypropylene fibres in a structured material designed for crude oil spill cleanup. To determine the viability of this substitution, buoyancy tests were conducted on the blended materials at various blending ratios. These tests aimed to evaluate the floating capability and stability of the blended fibres when exposed to crude oil spills. Moreover, comprehensive sorption tests were performed, analysing the absorption efficiency of the blended material in both crude oil and a mixture of seawater and crude oil. These tests also included assessments of water uptake under static and dynamic conditions, providing a thorough understanding of the material’s behaviour in real-world spill scenarios. The results indicated that replacing up to 50%-75% of polypropylene fibres with jute and coir fibres showed significant potential, demonstrating comparable or superior performance in absorbing crude oil while maintaining buoyancy. This research underscores the feasibility of using natural fibres as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic materials in oil spill cleanup efforts, highlighting their potential to reduce environmental impact without compromising the effectiveness of the cleanup process