OIL ADSORBENT MATERIALS FROM NATURAL RUBBER FOAM COATED WITH GAMMA-ASSISTED REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE (RGO)

This research studied the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by gamma irradiation on graphene oxide (GO) with varying doses of 0 - 65 kGy, which was subsequently coated on natural rubber foam (NRF) for use as efficient oil adsorbent materials. The results indicated that gamma irradiation of 45 kGy resulted in the maximum reduction of oxygen (O) content in GO, with a C:O ratio as high as 65.1:34.9 by weight. Additionally, after coating rGO on the surface of NRF with 2% polylactic acid (PLA) solution as a binder, the results showed that NRF coated with 3%wt. rGO exhibited the highest increases in oil absorption capacities for diesel, gasohol, lubricant oil, and palm oil by 79.1%, 87.5%, 70.8%, and 57.1%, respectively, in comparison to those of uncoated samples.