MODIFICATION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE – BANANA STEM FOR REMOVAL OF CRUDE OIL FROM WATER

Abstract

This study describes the modification of agricultural waste - banana stem after harvesting banana chamber for oil adsorption, using stearic acid and H₂SO₄ in the role of catalyst. The morphology of materials was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The organic functional groups presented in the material were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Thermal properties of materials were evaluated by thermal gravimetric method (TGA). Surface area of ​​the material was measured using the Brunauer-Emmet-Teller method (BET). Physicochemical analysis showed that the modified material becomes much more porous, wherein the pores are distributed more evenly compared to the raw material. The oil-adsorption activity of the material was also evaluated according to many factors, including the modification ratio between material and stearic acid, the modification time, the particle size of the material, the adsorption temperature and the concentration of crude oil. The optimal adsorption process takes place under conditions of simulating oil spill in seawater with NaCl concentration of 3.5%, the oil concentration of 5g oil/50 mL of seawater in 15 minutes.