Innovative nanostructured magnetite/wool/polysiloxane composite as magnetic adsorbent for oil spill removal

We report herein the synthesis and characterization of a new nanostructured composite (Wool-$\text{Fe}_3\text{O}_4$-Polysiloxane) aimed to be applied as a magnetic adsorbent for oil spill cleanup. The synthesized composite was characterized by the physical–chemical instrumental techniques (XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, and VSM). The hysteresis loops from the VSM measurement disclosed a magnetic saturation value of $M_{S}=5.47$ emu/g that was sufficient to induce magnetic properties to the composite material. The produced magnetic adsorbent showing hydrophobic properties was successfully tested for the sorption of petroleum products. Kinetic data of oily liquids retention and dripping were modeled by using the exponential and hyperbolic regression equations with three parameters. The hyperbolic kinetic model suggested higher maximal sorption capacity at time zero ($t=0$), that is, 14.486, 12.896, and 3.501 g/g, for motor oils 15W, 5W, and $n$-dodecane, respectively. The advanced recovery (80–92%) of retained oils from the spent sorbent was done by centrifugation