The performance of curaua fiber as sorbent of the diesel and biodiesel oils

Abstract

Curaua (Ananas erictifolius) fiber was investigated as sorbent of diesel and biodiesel oils, and compared with peat, which is used commercially. The sorption tests were carried out for the unclassified fiber and within the granulometry ranges <= 180; 180-425; 425-850 and 850-3350 mu m, in the times 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 1440 min. The sorbents were also submitted to a physycal-chemical and energetic characterization. The unclassified curaua fiber presented a medium sorption capacity of the diesel oil of 1.12 g oil g fiber(-1), similar to the one found for peat, which was 1.25 g oil g peat(-1), whereas the biodiesel sorption was 1.16 g oil g fiber(-1), higher than the peat sorption, 0.85 g oil g peat(-1). The peat showed the highest mean sorption value of both oils in the 180-425 mu m granulometry, decreasing with its increase. With the granolumetry increase, the curaua fiber experienced an increase in the biodiesel sorption, but remained constant regarding the diesel sorption. The calorific power of the sorbents after sorption was higher, due to the sorbed oil