Absorption of oil from water surfaces using chicken feather fibre / polypropylene blended nonwoven fabric.

The aim of this study involves surface modification of fibre for enhancing the sorption efficiency and developing fibrous assembly (absorbent pad) with different blend ratio of chicken fibre/polypropylene using needle punching technique. The buoyancy behaviour of the developed fibrous assembly is characterized by oilalone absorption capacity using three level three factorial experimental design. The experimental values confirm that the chicken feather fibre have the ability to absorb different types of oil. It was found that factors such as exposure time, water/oil mixture ratio and type of oil have effect on the absorption capacity of developed fabric (absorbent pad). Highest absorption (22.5 g/g) was obtained with the 0.9 g/cc viscous oil; light crude oil. The results also showed that the developed absorbent pad is quick absorbents and the absorption rate was highest within 10 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]