Optimization using response surface methodology for the sorptive removal of crude oil spills using a low-cost chitosan-poly(butyl acrylate) grafted copolymer

In this study, the sorption of oil from seawater using chitosan grafted poly(butyl acrylate) copolymer was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The effect of various parameters such as time, initial oil concentration, temperature, sorbent dose, and agitation rate on the oil sorption capacity was investigated. Plackett–Burman design was utilized for screening the various sorption parameters. RSM was adopted to acquire the best sorption conditions of two chitosan derivatives namely; CS-g-poly(ButA10) and CS-g-poly(ButA20). In this respect, the Box–Behnken design was applied. A second-order-polynomial model indicated that the sorption was very useful and able to achieve highest sorption capacity ranged from 79.56 to 92.29 g/g using grafted chitosan derivatives compared to 35.2 g/g for native chitosan in 180 min, 41.23–50 g/L of oil concentration, 38°C–41°C at 155–160 rpm. These findings nominate the fabricated CS-g-poly(ButA10) sorbent as an effectual and promising oil sorbent for environmental control of crude heavy oil spills.