Poly-Sorb: Synthesis of Waste-Derived Polysulfide Sorbents for Oil Spill Recovery and Environmental Remediation

This study utilized sulfur, waste cooking canola oil (WCCO), and sodium chloride, a waste-derived polysulfide sorbent synthesized for potential use in oil spill recovery and remediation. Through thermal copolymerization at 170°C , washed, and dried. Three concentrations were produced (15–15–70, 20–20-60, and 25–25–50 wt%). Oil absorption capacity, reusability retention across three cycles, and oil removal efficiency were tested for the three concentrations of polysulfide sorbent. Based on the findings, all concentrations showed successful results in absorbing oil, with 15-15-70 wt% achieving the highest mean absorption (1.42 g/g) and reusability retention (38.73%). 25-25-50 wt% performed the highest in terms of oil removal efficiency (96.0%), followed by 15-15-70 wt% (95.0%). Among three different concentrations, one-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference at α = 0.05 in terms of absorption capacity. The polysulfide sorbent showed effective absorption, moderate reusability, and high removal efficiency generally, indicating for its potential as a low-cost and eco-friendly sorbent. To help improve durability and performance, enhancement and conducting extended testing under simulated environmental conditions are recommended for future studies.