Virtual Booth

DEVELOPING OIL SORBENT FROM NATURAL PLANT FIBRES (OilXtract)

Oil pollution in waterways is one is the biggest issues in Malaysia. According to International 
Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), Malaysia’s coastal waters also 
experience oil pollution from bilge pumping, as well as from tank cleaning, which leads to 
dumping of oil and sludge by ocean going vessels. On the other hand, biomass waste is 
constantly generated by Malaysia. This is proven by an ‘Akademia Baru’ study which states 
Malaysia produces approximately 168 million tonnes of biomass, including palm oil waste, rice 
husks, coconut debris, sugar cane waste, urban waste, and forestry waste. This dissertation 
presents a product that serves to absorb oil in a large-scale that uses usual agricultural waste 
that are natural oil absorbents; namely, sawdust, coconut husks and palm fibres. By combining 
different ratios of natural oil absorbents, this product can be adjusted based on rate of 
absorption, durability, sustainability, longevity and availability. This product supports 
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, good health and well-being, Sustainable 
Development Goal (SDG) 6, clean water and sanitation, along with Sustainable Development 
Goal (SDG) 12, responsible consumption and production, aiming to reduce the impacts 
caused by polluted waters for both the ecosystem and domestic use.