The study involved the modification of sphagnum moss to enhance its properties for oil-water separation. The original sphagnum moss had a highly porous surface structure, making it suitable for adsorption applications. After modification, the surface showed increased roughness, the deposition of insoluble silica particles, and the encapsulation of a polysiloxane-derived layer. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses confirmed the presence of Si, C, and O elements on the surface.
The modified sphagnum moss exhibited improved thermal stability, with a increased temperature at 10% mass loss (T10) and a temperature corresponding to the maximum decomposition rate (Tdm). The material also demonstrated excellent hydrophobicity, with a water wetting angle of 157°.
The adsorption capacity of the modified sphagnum moss for organic compounds was evaluated, and it was found to have a significantly higher capacity than the original material. The material was able to adsorb various organic compounds, including motor oil, vacuum oil, and xylene.
The study also investigated the recyclability and reusability of the modified sphagnum moss, finding that it was able to maintain over 90% of its initial capacity after 10 adsorption-evaporation cycles.
The adsorption kinetics of the modified sphagnum moss were also studied, and it was found that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The study also proposed a mechanism for the surface modification, involving the grafting of a polysiloxane layer onto the pretreated sphagnum moss surface.