Plant based material useful in adsorbing petroleum products, processes for making these, and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for making completely biodegradable, hydrophobic, oleophilic plant based materials which are useful in adsorption of petroleum products. The materials have an average diameter of from 1 to 5 mm, and an ash content of from 10% to 30%. The non-paraffin coating is an animal fat product, preferably produced by dissolving a pure animal fat and using this as the coating material.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A process for preparing a completely biodegradable, lipid coated plant based material useful in adsorbing petroleum products, comprising:
 (a) dissolving at least a portion of a solid animal fat in a solvent, to dissolve lipids therein   (b) admixing a simple of plant based particles having an average diameter of from about 1 mm to about 5 mm and an ash content of from 10-30% with said solvent, to form a mixture   (c) treating said mixture to remove solvent therefrom, said lipids remaining on surfaces of said particles, and   (d) drying said lipid coated particles, wherein said material does not contain hydrocarbon digesting bacteria.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said plant based material is from a date palm tree. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said solvent comprises petroleum ether. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said solvent comprises at least one straight or branched alkane or aliphatic compound. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein said alkane or aliphatic compound contains from 6 to 12 carbons. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said solvent further comprises hexane. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said material remains buoyant following adsorption of said petroleum product. 
     
     
         8 . Lipid coated plant based particle material produced in accordance with  claim 2 . 
     
     
         9 . A method for adsorbing a petroleum product comprising contacting said product with the particle material of  claim 8 , for a time sufficient to adsorb said petroleum product. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said product is crude oil, synthetic oil or engine oil (burnt, fresh, or used). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said petroleum product is in or on an aqueous or nonaqueous medium. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said petroleum product is spilled in a navigable or potable body of water. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising deploying said products via air or land. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising deploying said product in a water repellant container means. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising removing said product following adsorption of said petroleum product. 
     
     
         16 . A completely biodegradable, lipid coated plant based material useful in adsorbing petroleum products, consisting of:
 (i) a sample of date palm particles having an average diameter of from about 1 mm to about 5 mm, and an ash content of from about 10 to about 30%,   (ii) wherein said particles are coated with an animal fat, to produce a hydrophobic, oleophilic product useful in adsorbing petroleum products which remains buoyant after adsorption of said petroleum products.