It has become imperative globally that we build a more sustainable society. Part of the drive towards attaining this includes finding an environmentally friendly solution to materials we use including materials from automobile vehicles. This research is focused on finding a sustainable solution to end-of-life tyres through material recycling into useful products; in this case absorption mats for oil decontamination from tyre rubber granulate.The research consisted of two parts. Firstly, theoretical reviews which involved an extensive literature review of oil decontamination practice and methods of doing it. Review of tyre rubber granulate properties and consultations with experts/agencies involved in oil decontamination operations in Sweden where mostly physical methods such as use of absorbents on land and booms on water. The second component of the research is an experimental part which involved laboratory test of the absorption properties of tyre rubber granulate at University College of Borås (HB) in which granules of sizes 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mm were tested on different oil samples; gasoline, diesel and motor oils. Environmental properties tests were also conducted at the Swedish Technical Research Institute (SP) where metal and organic contents of the granules and its leachate were tested.Results from the study showed that tyre rubber granules have the ability to absorb different types of oil. It was found that factors such as exposure time, granulate size, temperature and type of oil have effect on the absorption capacity of granulate. Highest absorption (2.518 g/g) was experienced with the least viscous oil; gasoline. Absorption was found to increase with an increase in temperature and decrease in granulate size with the smallest granulate size (0.50 mm) having the highest absorption at 30oC. It was equally observed that the presence of water does not have significant effect on oil absorption by granulate. The results also showed that tyre rubber granules are quick absorbents; absorption rate was highest within 5 minutes.Environmental properties test on granulate indicated the presence of organics (PAHs, phthalates, phenols) and metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd) in granulate and its leachate. PAHs content of the granules and its leachate exceeded the Swedish guideline. Metal content of the granules and its leachate were below the guideline value with the exception for zinc (Zn) which content in granules exceeded guideline value. It should be noted however that the test conditions are too extreme to be experienced under normal condition of use of granulate for oil decontamination.It is concluded that tyre rubber granulate can be developed into absorption mats for oil decontamination due to its good oils absorption properties and benefits to the society in solving two key environmental problems; oil spill and tyre waste problems. Equally the use of tyre granules for this application will not pose human health and/or environmental risk if used adequately. / Uppsatsnivå: D
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hb-18555 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Aronu, Ugochukwu Edwin |
| Publisher | Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Ingenjörshögskolan, University of Borås/School of Engineering |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | Magisteruppsats, ; 4 |
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