Sabrnal H. El-Hamouly

Synthesis of Oil Spill Sorbents Based on Cellulose Derivatives

In this work, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) was used to synthesize hydroxypropylcellulose acrylate (HPCA) macromonomer by esterification of HPC with acryloyl chloride in homogenous solution of DMF. Then the produced HPCA monomer was copolymerized with ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) in presence of two types of crosslinkers to produce oil gel. Several parameters were considered, namely, monomers feed ratio, type and concentration of the applied crosslinkers. The chemical structures of both HPC and HPCA were confirmed by using FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopic analyses. Also, the thermal properties of the crosslinked oil absorbents were investigated by using TGA. Furthermore, morphological propoeries of these crosslinked sorbers were studied through SEM and their swelling efficiency was thoroughly investigated in heavy and light oil.

Formation and Stability of Water-in-Diesel Fuel Nanoemulsions Prepared by High-Energy Method

In this work, water-in-diesel fuel nanoemulsions were prepared with mixed nonionic surfactants. Five emulsions with different water contents: 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9% (wt/wt) were prepared using high-energy method. Several mixtures of sorbitan monooleate, and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, results in different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values (9.6, 9.8, 10, 10.2, and 10.4) were prepared to achieve the optimal HLB value used in the preparation of nanoemulsions. The effect of water, mixed surfactant concentration and HLB value on the droplet size has been studied. Droplet size of the prepared nanoemulsions was determined by dynamic light scattering, and the nanoemulsion stability assessed, measuring the variation of the droplet size as a function of time. From the obtained results, it was found that the mean droplet sizes formed between 49.55 and 190.1 nm depend on the water content, the concentration of the emulsifiers blend and HLB value.

Synthesis of Some Oil Spill Dispersants Based on Sorbitol Esters and Their Capability to Disperse Crude Oil on Seawater to Alleviate Its Accumulation and Environmental Impact

In this respect mono‐, di‐, and tri‐ sorbitol oleate esters [SMO, SDO, and STO] were prepared and then ethoxylated using ethylene oxide to obtain six sorbitol esters at different ethylene oxide content (e.o=5, 12, 15, 20, 35, and 45). They were tested as oil spill dispersants individually and in blends. From the obtained data, it was found that the blends are more effective than the corresponding individual surfactants. The maximum dispersion capability for the prepared surfactants was obtained at HLB range from 9 to 11 for the both individual surfactants and blends. The increase of total carbon number in the surfactant alkyl group leads to increase dispersion capability of the dispersant. The wide range of ethylene oxide content was used, but the maximum dispersion efficiency was obtained at ethylene oxide=20 in E(20)STO. Meanwhile, the dispersion capability increases when the interfacial tension decreases.