Место издания:IB FRC Komi SC UB RAS Syktyvkar, Russia
Аннотация:Heavy fuel oil (HFO), or mazut, pollution remains one of the most persistent and ecologically disruptive contamination for aquatic environments. In the recent years, frequency and scale of such pollution events have increased significantly highlighting the limitations of current HFO spill response strategies. A notable catastrophic event occurred on December 15, 2024 due to the cargo shipwreck in the Kerch Strait resulted in the release of several thousand tons of heavy fuel oil into the Black Sea, which broke onto the shores of Anapa region causing heavy pollution of sand shores and coastal waters. The high viscosity and density of HFO (it sinks or float in the subsurface waters) are the major challenges, which make inefficient a use of conventional remediation techniques oriented for removal of oil floating on the surface of water. This provides for an urgent need of efficient, inexpensive and ecologically safe solutions for HFO spill mitigation.The goal of this study was to evaluate the sorption efficiency of HFO onto various plant-based materials including: jute, flax, hemp, and algae fibers, peat, sawdust as well as synthetic materials. In addition to sorption efficiency, the removal efficiency of the sorbents loaded with heavy fuel oil was investigated as well as retention of HFO by the sorbent after is Experimental findings revealed that jute fiber exhibited superior performance among the tested sorbents. The optimal fuel oil-to-sorbent mass ratio was determined to be approximately 8:1. Importantly, the method of fiber application played a critical role in overall efficiency. The most effective strategy involved pre-soaking the jute fibers in water, followed by thorough mixing, mechanical collection, drying, and subsequent deployment adjacent to the spill site. This process facilitated the formation of a fibrous mesh that encapsulated the oil, enhancing both capture and stability.Jute fibers of 2–4 cm in length were found to be the most effective in forming stable, cohesive structures. Once applied, the oil-fiber complex retained its structural integrity for up to three hours under static conditions, suggesting suitability for initial containment in emergency scenarios. The obtained results demonstrate the promising potential of jute-based sorbents as low-cost, environmentally friendly materials for rapid deployment in the early stages of oil spill response. Further research is warranted to optimize the application protocol and assess long-term environmental interactions.
