JPH04265194A - Oil adsorptive material and its production - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make natural fiber or the mixture thereof with chemical fiber hydrophobic and to enhance oil adsorptive capacity by regulating natural fiber and the mixture to low density by mechanical treatment, and furthermore performing water-repellent treatment. CONSTITUTION:Natural fiber (i.e., wool) or the mixture thereof with chemical fiber such as polyester are regulated to low density by mechanical treatment. Furthermore, water-repellent treatment is performed thereon. In the regulating treatment to low density, for example, rotary rollers 2, 2 having acicular projections are rotated and wool 4 sent by a conveyor 3 is disintegrated. Thereby a sheetlike oil adsorptive material 1 regulated to low density is obtained. Further, cellulose fiber or the mixture thereof with chemical fibers are regulated to low density by mechanical treatment and, furthermore water-repellent treatment is performed. As a result, hydrophobic property is obtained and also oil adsorptive capacity is enhanced. Moreover, this oil adsorptive material is constituted of a natural high polymer having natural decomposability and thereby trouble of secondary pollution is avoided.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is an oil adsorbent for adsorbing and disposing of oil that is no longer needed in machinery factories, oil refineries, restaurant industries, oil spill accidents at sea, etc., and a method for manufacturing the same. Regarding.

0002

[Prior Art] There are various ways to dispose of oil that is no longer needed, such as in machine factories, oil refineries, the restaurant industry, oil spills at sea, etc. , this method of disposal is extremely effective. For this reason, conventionally, oil adsorbents made of synthetic resin-based nonwoven fabrics and the like have been mainly used. However, oil adsorbents made of synthetic resin nonwoven fabrics have a drawback in that they have a low ability to retain adsorbed oil. In addition, when incinerating the collected oil-adsorbing material, the calorific value is 9 to 12K.
Due to the high cal/gr and the adhesion of tar etc.
A special incinerator is required because the incinerator is damaged. Furthermore, when incinerated, harmful gases are generated because the oil adsorbent is made of synthetic resin. Furthermore, when used in an oil spill accident at sea, if the unrecovered oil adsorbent settles, the oil adsorbent is made of synthetic resin and cannot be naturally purified, contaminating the seabed and even damaging marine life. There are also concerns about secondary pollution.

0003

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, the conventional oil adsorbents described above have many drawbacks, and therefore, in recent years, it has been proposed to use natural fibers as oil adsorbents. However, since natural fibers are hydrophilic, they absorb water during use. Therefore, by making it hydrophobic,
Furthermore, it is desired to develop an oil adsorbent with improved oil absorption ability.

[0004] The present invention was made in response to the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an oil adsorbent that can be made hydrophobic and have an increased oil absorption capacity, and a method for producing the same.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The oil adsorbent and the method for producing the same of the present invention are characterized in that it is mainly composed of natural fibers or cellulose fibers. Furthermore, the method for producing an oil adsorbent of the present invention is characterized by spraying or impregnating a water repellent onto a material mainly made of natural fibers or cellulose fibers, and then drying the material.

[0006]

[Function] In the oil adsorbent and its manufacturing method of the present invention, taking wool fiber as an example as a natural fiber, the cross-sectional shape of the wool fiber is approximately circular, and a scale-like coating is formed on its surface. ing. Further, wool fibers are animal fibers containing keratin as a main component, and are crimped, making them suitable for spinning. When stretched, the folded α-keratin structure transforms into a β-keratin structure, exhibiting reversible elasticity. It also has fairly high moisture absorption and heat retention properties. Furthermore, its surface is scaly, which contributes to mutual entanglement during weaving. This allows for lower density and higher tensile strength. Also, because of its oil content, it is easily compatible with oil, but has the property of being difficult to absorb water.

[0007] Taking cotton as an example of cellulose fiber, since cotton is the purest natural fiber, it is important and indispensable as a raw material for the cellulose ester and ether industries. It is. In the paper industry, taking advantage of its high chemical purity,
Used for filter paper, hardboard paper, etc. It is also commonly used in clothing and as a stuffing material. Here, examples of stuffing include cushions, mattresses, pillows, etc. Cotton fibers have a width of 15-20μ and a length of 20-40mm, depending on the production area.
It is said to be a flattened tube-like shape, and the whole is twisted at a rate of about several dozen twists per 10 mm. Such a structure does not allow easy penetration of water and is suitable as a low-density material. When dried, the air contained in the fibers is heated, expands, and stretches the fibers, making them fluffy and soft, and retaining their shape even when cold. Since cotton has been widely used, it is inexpensive and extremely easy to obtain. Furthermore, natural ingredients
Since it is made of cellulose, lignin, pentosan, etc., it does not cause any harmful effects when incinerated, and even if it is left unused due to failure to collect it when used at sea, it is a natural polymer that can be naturally degradable. , problems such as secondary pollution are also avoided.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, details of embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the oil adsorbent of the present invention, and the oil adsorbent shown in the figure is in the form of a sheet woven with natural fibers. Here, for example, wool is used as the natural fiber, and the thickness of the wool fiber is 2
The diameter is 0 to 30 μ and the length is 5 to 10 cm. Also,
The cross-sectional shape of the wool fiber is approximately circular, and a scale-like coating is formed on its surface. Also here, the wool is
It is an animal fiber whose main component is keratin, and because it is curly, it is suitable for spinning. When stretched, the folded α-keratin structure transforms into a β-keratin structure, exhibiting reversible elasticity. It also has fairly high moisture absorption and heat retention properties. Furthermore, its surface is scaly, which contributes to mutual entanglement during weaving. This allows for lower density and higher tensile strength. Also, because of its oil content, it is easily compatible with oil, but has the property of being difficult to absorb water.

Furthermore, wool is inexpensive and easily available. In addition, since wool is a fiber whose main component is keratin, there is no concern about the generation of harmful gases when it is incinerated. Furthermore, when used in an oil spill accident at sea, even if the oil adsorbent that was not recovered settles, it is a naturally degradable natural polymer, so there is no risk of contamination of the sea floor or secondary damage to marine life. Concerns about pollution will also disappear. Such an oil adsorbent made of wool fibers is manufactured as follows. First, make wool from 60 to 1
00%, and 0 to 40% polyester is mixed therein, preferably wool is 100%. In addition, mechanical processing is performed to reduce the density. The purpose of lowering the density here is to improve oil absorption performance. An oil adsorbent with a low density or a styrene-based water repellent, such as Polymaron 360 (trade name of Arakawa Industries), is added to the oil adsorbent 80 to 9.
1 to 20 parts by weight per 9 parts by weight, preferably 90 to 98 parts by weight
Water repellency is imparted by spraying or impregnating 2 to 10 parts by weight.

Here, Polymalon 3 used as a water repellent
60 has excellent self-fixing properties, so it is well fixed to fibers even without a fixing agent such as metal ions. In addition, other water repellents include paraffin-based, silicon-based,
Fluorine-based, synthetic resin-based, fatty acid derivatives, and chromium complex salts can also be used. Figure 3 shows the oil adsorbent 1 in this example.
This figure shows the performance of different blends of Polymaron 360, and also compares the performance with conventional commercially available oil adsorbents.

Next, the above-mentioned density reduction processing method will be explained. In this example, an oil adsorbent made of wool or wool mixed with chemical fibers was mechanically treated to create an oil adsorbent with a low specific gravity of 0.005 to 0.030 gr/cm3 and excellent oil adsorption and retention properties. Oil adsorbent 1 can be obtained. The key to improving oil absorption performance is to lower the density, and the method for achieving this is as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, rotating rollers 2, 2 having needle-like protrusions are rotated to loosen wool 4 fed by a conveyor 3, and a seed-like oil adsorbent 1 with a reduced density is obtained. It will be done.

FIG. 4 shows the oil adsorption performance of the same material with varying densities, and it can be seen that the value of B heavy oil increases as the density decreases. In addition, Figure 5 shows the performance when changing the blend of wool and polyester.
It can be seen that the values of B heavy oil and water supply become higher as the density becomes lower.

Next, a method of increasing the tensile strength of the oil adsorbent 1 will be explained. First, when recovering the oil adsorbent 1 that has adsorbed oil, a certain degree of tensile strength is required. Here, for example, the tensile strength standards for the oil adsorbent 1 used at sea are determined by the Shipping Bureau of the Ministry of Transport, the performance test standards, the weight of the oil adsorbent 1 after oil adsorption is less than 3 kg, and the hook load. It is assumed that there is no breakage. For this reason, in this example, a bleached cloth was subjected to a water repellent treatment by spraying, coating, or impregnating with a mixture of silicone-based water repellent, trade name: Toray Silicone SD8000, 20%, and toluene 80%. By wrapping the oil adsorbent 1 with a material that has been dried at ~100°C for about 5 to 15 minutes, the oil adsorbent 1 that hardly absorbs water can be obtained.

[0014] In addition to the bleached cloth, the material for wrapping the oil absorbent 1 may be gauze, unbleached cloth, cloth, or nonwoven fabric, and the water repellent may include styrene, paraffin, etc. Fluorine-based, synthetic resin-based, fatty acid derivatives, chromium complex salts, etc. may also be used. FIG. 6 shows the performance when the oil adsorbent 1 is wrapped in bleached cloth, and it can be seen that the amount of water absorption is reduced.

As described above, in this example, natural fibers or a mixture of chemical fibers and natural fibers were mechanically treated to reduce their density, and further water repellent treatment was applied, so that it could be used without increasing costs. It is possible to obtain an oil adsorbent that does not cause secondary pollution. Next, another example will be described in which the oil adsorbent 1 shown in FIG. 1 is replaced with cellulose fiber instead of natural fiber.

First, for example, cotton is used as the cellulose fiber. Since cotton is the purest natural fiber, it is important and indispensable as a raw material for the cellulose ester or ether industry. In the paper industry, it is used for filter paper, hardboard paper, etc., taking advantage of its high chemical purity. It is also commonly used in clothing and as a stuffing material. Here, examples of stuffing include cushions, mattresses, pillows, etc. Cotton fibers have a width of 15 to 20 μm and a length of 20 to 40 μm, depending on the production area.
It is said to be a flattened tube shape of about 10 mm in diameter, and the whole is twisted at a rate of about several tens of twists per 10 mm. Such a structure does not allow easy penetration of water and is suitable as a low-density material. When drying, the air contained in the fibers is heated and expands, stretching the fibers.
It becomes fluffy and soft and maintains its shape even when it gets cold.

Since cotton has been widely used, it is inexpensive and extremely easy to obtain. Furthermore, since the natural ingredients are cellulose, lignin, pentosan, etc., there are no harmful effects when incinerated, and even if they are left unused due to failure to collect them during use at sea, they are naturally degradable. Since it is a natural polymer, problems such as secondary pollution are also avoided. Such an oil adsorbent made of cotton is manufactured as follows. First, the cotton is 60-100%,
This is mixed with 0 to 40% polyester, preferably 80% cotton and 20% polyester, and is reduced in density by the mechanical treatment shown in FIG. 2. Here, as shown in FIG. 9, as the amount of polyester is increased, the density becomes lower and the oil absorption property also increases. However, since polyester is a chemical substance, it does not dissolve naturally and may cause secondary pollution, for example, if it is not recovered at sea.

[0018] Furthermore, as mentioned above, an oil adsorbent having a low density or a styrene-based water repellent, such as the above-mentioned Polymaron 360, is added to the oil adsorbent in an amount of 1 to 80 to 99 parts by weight of the oil adsorbent.
2 to 20 parts by weight, preferably 90 to 98 parts by weight
Water repellency is imparted by spraying or impregnating 10 parts by weight. Here, Polymaron 360, which is used as a water repellent,
has excellent self-fixing properties, so it can be well fixed to fibers even without a fixing agent such as metal ions. Also,
As other water repellents, paraffin-based, silicon-based, fluorine-based, synthetic resin-based, fatty acid derivatives, and chromium complex salts can also be used. FIG. 7 shows the oil adsorption performance when the density is changed using the same material, and it can be seen that the value of B heavy oil increases as the density decreases. Moreover, FIG. 8 shows the oil adsorption performance when the density is changed using the same material, and it can be seen that the value of B heavy oil increases as the density decreases. Note that when recovering the oil adsorbent 1 that has adsorbed oil, a certain degree of tensile strength is required as per the above criteria.

Therefore, in this example, bleached cloth was sprayed, coated, or impregnated with a mixture of silicone-based water repellent, trade name: Torre Silicone SD8000, 20%, and toluene 80%, in the same manner as above. By applying water treatment and drying at 60 to 100° C. for about 5 to 15 minutes and wrapping the oil adsorbent 1, it is possible to obtain an oil adsorbent 1 that hardly absorbs water. Here, as the material for wrapping the oil absorbent 1 in addition to bleached cloth, gauze, unbleached cloth, cloth, etc., non-woven fabric, etc. may be used as well as the above-mentioned materials, and the water repellent may be styrene-based, paraffin-based , fluorine-based, synthetic resin-based, fatty acid derivatives, chromium complex salts, etc. may be used. Figure 10 shows the performance when the oil adsorbent 1 is wrapped in bleached cloth.
It can be seen that the amount of water absorption has decreased.

[0020]

As explained above, according to the oil adsorbent and the method for producing the same of the present invention, since wool fiber, for example, is used as the natural fiber, it is possible to achieve low density, which is a characteristic of wool fiber, and Due to its high tensile strength and oil content, it is easily compatible with oil, but its properties that do not absorb water can be effectively utilized. In addition, since we used cotton fiber as the cellulose fiber, water does not easily penetrate, which is a characteristic of cotton fiber, and it is suitable as a low-density material. The air inside the fabric is heated, expands, and stretches the fibers, making them fluffy and soft, and retaining their shape even when cold. In addition, even if it is left unused due to failure to collect it during use at sea, it is a naturally degradable natural polymer, so problems such as secondary pollution can be avoided, making effective use of its properties. be able to. Therefore, hydrophobicity can be achieved and oil absorption ability can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the oil adsorbent of the present invention, and is a perspective view when natural fibers are used as the oil adsorbent.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method for reducing the density of the oil adsorbent shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the performance of the oil adsorbent shown in FIG. 1 when the composition of Polymalon 360 is changed, and also compares the performance with a conventional commercially available oil adsorbent.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing oil adsorption performance when the oil adsorbent shown in FIG. 1 is made of the same material with different densities.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the performance when the blend of wool and polyester in the oil adsorbent of FIG. 1 is changed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the performance when the oil adsorbent of FIG. 1 is wrapped in bleached cloth.

FIG. 7 shows another example in which the wool fibers constituting the oil adsorbent in FIG. 1 are replaced with cotton fibers, and is a diagram showing the oil adsorption performance when the same material has a different blend of Polymaron 360. It is.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the oil adsorption performance of oil adsorbents made of cotton fibers made of the same material but with different densities.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the performance when polyester is added to an oil adsorbent made of cotton fibers.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the performance when an oil adsorbent made of cotton fibers is wrapped in bleached cloth.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Oil adsorbent 2 Rotating roller 3 Conveyor

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An oil adsorbent mainly composed of natural fibers. 2. The oil adsorbent according to claim 1, wherein a water repellent treatment agent is fixed thereon. 3. The bulk specific gravity of the natural fiber is 0.00.
The oil adsorbent according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the oil adsorbent has a content of 5 to 0.030 gr/cm3. 4. A method for producing an oil adsorbent, which comprises spraying or impregnating the natural fiber with a water repellent and then drying the material. 5. A method for producing an oil adsorbent, which comprises blending 60 to 100% natural fibers and 0 to 40% chemical fibers, and mechanically treating the mixture to reduce its density. [Claim 6] After spraying, coating or impregnating a water repellent onto a cloth or non-woven fabric mainly made of natural fibers,
A method for producing an oil adsorbent, which is characterized by wrapping a material that is squeezed and dried and mainly consists of natural fibers. 7. An oil adsorbent mainly composed of cellulose fibers. 8. An oil adsorbent comprising a cellulose fiber as a main component and a water repellent treatment agent fixed thereto. 9. The cellulose fiber has a bulk specific gravity of 0.0.
9. The oil adsorbent according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the oil adsorbent has a viscosity of 0.05 to 0.030 gr/cm3. 10. A method for producing an oil adsorbent, which comprises spraying or impregnating a water repellent onto a material mainly composed of cellulose fibers, and then drying the material. 11. A method for producing an oil adsorbent, which comprises blending 60 to 100% cellulose fibers and 0 to 40% chemical fibers, and mechanically treating the fibers to reduce their density. [Claim 12] A cloth or non-woven fabric mainly composed of natural fibers is sprayed, coated or impregnated with a water repellent, and then squeezed and dried, and is used to wrap a material mainly composed of cellulose fibers. Method for producing oil adsorbent.