Sorption and Recovery of Heavy Oil by Using Exfoliated Graphite†

Masahiro TOYODA*, Kouji MORIYA, Jyunichi AIZAWA† and Michio INAGAKI††

Department of Chemistry and Biology Engineering, Fukui National College of Technology;
Geshi, Sabae-shi 916-8507 Japan
† Hitachi Chemicals Co., Ltd.; 4-9-24, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0023 Japan
†† Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University; Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi 060-8628 Japan

It was found that an exfoliated graphite (E.G) can sorb very quickly a large amount of heavy oil. The maximum sorption capacity on E.G. was found to be very high, 86 g of A-grade heavy oil per 1 g of an exfoliated graphite, which is much larger than the package of absorbents (polypropylene) have ever used. E.G have small surface area and total pore volume, a little less maximum sorption capacity (about 70 g/g) was observed.
On observation through SEM and porosimeter, differences of morphology on exfoliated graphite (samples A and B) were detected. The sorption capacity and rate for sorption of heavy oil into exfoliated graphite were depended on shape of exfoliated graphite (bulk density, specific surface area and total pore volume).
† Sorption Quantity and Ratio of Heavy Oil for Exfoliated Graphite. Part 1.
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