Oil Adsorption Properties of Human Hair and Its Applications

Tan, Pei Nee (2012) Oil Adsorption Properties of Human Hair and Its Applications. Final Year Project (Other), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Human hair is natural organic material which possesses oleophilic characteristic. It was evaluated as oil adsorbent in this project. Oil adsorption properties of human hair were evaluated on different forms (i.e. particulate and boom). Oil uptake performance of human hair was observed to be better in boom form where there was hydrophobic yet oleophilic skirt wrapping material on human hair particulate. With human hair in boom form, evaluation on oil reclaimed after adsorption was carried out. Recycle in used boom were further evaluated for oil uptake performance. Temperature was served as another important factor that influencing oil uptake performance. Evaluation was done on comparison oil adsorption properties of different waste material, namely, polypropylene, rice husk and wood dust. Polypropylene rated as the best oil sorbent. In addition, hydrophilic characteristic and poor buoyancy were observed to be possessed by the natural materials. Finally further applications on oil saturated hair bundles were studied as to frilly make use of the 'waste' material. It was evaluated as plant fertilizer.