Oil sorption mechanism and capability of cattail fiber assembly

The cattail fiber assembly used as a sorbent for the sorption of engine and vegetable oils was investigated. The internal factors governing the oil sorption of cattail fibers were discussed. The analysis for the adsorption mechanism of cattail fiber assembly indicated that the tuft of cattail fibers has a down-like structure and, thus, its surface area and retaining space are large. The high surface waxiness and small surface free energy enabled the cattail fiber to have excellent oleophilic–hydrophobic property. The experimental results indicated that the oil-sorption rates of cattail fiber assemblies to engine oil and vegetable oil were 13.4 g/g and 14.6 g/g, respectively, and the oil retention capability to both engine oil and vegetable oil after 24 hours was over 95%. The cattail fibers have similar oil sorption capability with those of nonwoven wool materials, however, nature sorbents such as kapok fibers are superior to the cattail fibers.