Search for Optimal Temperature Conditions for Thermal Disposal of Oil-Saturated Polymer Sorbent

A study was conducted to determine the temperature regimes for the decontamination of a urea-formaldehyde resin-based polymer sorbent after oil sorption using synchronous thermal analysis. The onset temperatures of thermal degradation, autoignition, maximum mass loss rate, thermal effects, and residual mass of the sorbents (initial and after oil absorption) were determined. It was found that thermal degradation of the oil-saturated sorbent begins at 100 °C, while the original sorbent exhibits thermal stability up to 192 °C. The maximum mass loss rate during thermal degradation was recorded at 219 °C for the oil-saturated sorbent and at 264 °C for the original sorbent. Laboratory analysis revealed that the energy release of the original sorbent was 10 times greater than that of the oil-contaminated sorbent. To conserve energy resources, combustion of oil-saturated sorbent at temperatures ranging from 450 to 500 °C is recommended. Analysis revealed swelling of the oil-saturated sorbent by 30–40 % due to the release of gaseous decomposition products from the polymer matrix. Natural biodegradation remains an advantage of the sorbent, and thermal disposal should be considered an emergency.