Iranian natural zeolite particle modification: Green synthesis, characterization, and oil spill remediation

In the present work, Iranian natural zeolite particles (NZ) as an abundant and low-cost resource were modified by chemical covalent attachments of commercially available stearic acid (SA) with tunable hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties. The versatile, simple, and green technique of mechanogriding was performed for the hydrophobic derivatisation of NZ. The NZ and as-prepared modified particles were thoroughly characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Barret-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), and static water contact angle (WCA) measurements. TG-DTA results revealed the high thermal stability of the modified sample up to 490°C. The flake-like structures of functionalized NZ were discrete and no longer aggregated due to modification. The absorbing function of the modified NZ was evaluated by its removal of oil from a stable crude oil emulsion in water.