Abstract

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A critical need for a more sustainable approach to oil spill cleanup in Nigeria, especially the NigerDelta,was highlighted by the environmental and economic devastation documented in the 2011 UnitedNationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP) assessment of Ogoni land. Existing cleanup methods relying onsyntheticsorbents proved expensive, logistically challenging, and harmful to the environment due totheirnon-biodegradable nature. This research investigated the potential of natural coir fibers, a readily availableandlow-cost resource in Nigeria, as an alternative. The inherent advantages of coir, such as lowdensity,appropriate stif ness, disposability, and renewability, make it a promising candidate. The researchexploredmodifying coir fibers through acetylation to improve their oil absorption and reusability. Sorptionexperiments and oil recovery assessments were conducted to evaluate the ef ectiveness of the modifiedcoirsorbent. Additionally, FT-IR, XRD, and TGA analyses were employed to understand the material propertiesand the impact of the treatment. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the potential ofutilizing natural coir fibers as a sustainable solution for oil spill cleanup in Nigeria.

Keywords: Crude oil, coir fibre, oil sorption, hydrophobicity