Sustainable development of fibrous cocoon waste of Antheraea proylei and Bombyx mori as a sorbent for purification of various oil spills from water

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of needle-punched silkworm cocoon waste derived from Antheraea proylei and Bombyx mori as sorbent materials for the removal of oil spills from water. The investigation was conducted using six different types of oils: motor oil, vegetable oil, mustard oil, petrol, diesel, crude oil, and lubricant oil. Key parameters assessed included oil sorption capacity, oil retention capacity, and the reusability of the needle-punched sorbent materials. The results demonstrated that Antheraea proylei-based needle-punched sorbents exhibited the highest oil sorption capacity with motor oil, reaching 48.72 g of oil per gram of sorbent. In contrast, Bombyx mori-based sorbents showed maximum sorption with crude oil, recording a capacity of 37.29 g/g. Both types of sorbent materials displayed significant oil retention abilities and could be reused effectively up to five cycles without substantial loss in performance. This study highlights the potential of silkworm cocoon waste as a sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective sorbent material for the removal of various oil contaminants from aquatic environments. The findings support the development of value-added applications for sericulture byproducts, contributing to environmental protection and waste valorization.