Process for sorbing liquids using tropical fibers

• US 6,506,307 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FYBX Corporation
• Original Assignee: FyBx Environmental, Inc.
• Inventors: Kingham, Neville William, Hondroulis, Dimitrios George, Bergquist-Kingham, Katherine Tracy
• Primary Examiner(s): Cintins, Nars
• Application Number:
  US09/389,911
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 210/671, 210/680, 210/691, 210/242.4, 210/282, 210/924
• US Class Current: 210/671
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/22 comprising organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28023 Fibres or filaments fibres or filaments in the form of membranes B01J20/28038; B01J20/28007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/485 Plants or land vegetals, e.g. cereals, wheat, corn, rice, sphagnum, peat moss
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/681 by addition of solid materials for removing an oily layer on water
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/32 for absorbing liquids to remove pollution, e.g. oil, gasoline, fat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/924 using physical agent, e.g. sponge, mop

Abstract

A process is described for sorbing hydrophobic liquids using a plurality of dried, washed fibers originating from a tropical plant material having naturally hydrophobic fibers. The dried, washed fibers have been washed sufficiently to extract a substantial portion of natural liquids therefrom, thereby improving their hydrophobic absorptive properties. The dried, washed fibers are applied in communication with a body containing the hydrophobic liquid whereupon they sorb the hydrophobic liquid from the body.

Claims

1. A process for sorbing a hydrophobic liquid comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of dried, washed fibers originating from a banana stalk having naturally hydrophobic fibers, wherein said washed fibers have been washed sufficiently to extract a substantial portion of natural liquids to improve the hydrophobic absorptivity of said fibers;

applying said plurality of dried, washed fibers in communication with a body containing the hydrophobic liquid; and

sorbing the hydrophobic liquid from the body with said plurality of dried, washed fibers.

2. A process for sorbing a hydrophobic liquid using a plurality of fibers originating from a naturally hydrophobic tropical plant material, wherein said tropical plant material also has a high content of natural liquids, said process comprising the steps of:

reducing the naturally hydrophobic tropical plant material to a plurality of separated natural fibers;

washing the plurality of separated natural fibers in an aqueous solution having a solubilizing base sufficiently to remove a substantial portion of said natural liquids from said plurality of separated natural fibers to improve the hydrophobic absorptivity of said fibers;

drying said plurality of washed natural fibers;

applying said plurality of dried, washed natural fibers in communication with a body containing the hydrophobic liquid; and

sorbing the hydrophobic liquid from the body with said plurality of dried, washed natural fibers.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein said plurality of dried, washed fibers has a water and natural liquid content not greater than 15% by weight.

4. The process of claim 2, wherein said plurality of dried, washed fibers originate from a naturally hydrophobic tropical plant material selected from the group consisting of:

banana stalks, plantain stalks, cavendish plant stalks, pineapple crowns, coconut fronds, palmetto fronds and palm fronds.

5. The process of claim 2, further including the step of pressing said washed fibers to remove an additional portion of water and natural liquids therefrom.

6. The process of claim 2, wherein said applying step includes the step of applying said plurality of dried, washed fibers in communication with a body of water containing said hydrophobic liquid.

7. The process of claim 2, wherein said applying step includes the step of applying said plurality of dried, washed fibers in communication with a semi-solid body contaminated with said hydrophobic liquid.

8. The process of claim 7, further comprising the step of allowing said plurality of dried, washed fibers to biodegrade while in communication with the semi-solid body, thereby enhancing biodegradation of said hydrophobic liquid and decreasing the time required for said hydrophobic liquid to degrade.

9. The process of claim 2, wherein said applying step includes the step of applying said dried, washed fibers as a filtration medium through which the body containing the hydrophobic liquid is passed.

10. The process of claim 2, further comprising the step of collecting the plurality of dried, washed fibers following sorption of the hydrophobic liquid.

11. The process of claim 10, further comprising the step of disposing of the plurality of dried, washed fibers.

12. The process of claim 2, further comprising the step of recovering the hydrophobic liquid from the plurality of dried, washed fibers.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein said liquid recovering step includes the step of compressing said plurality of dried, washed fibers.