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7621935 
Journal Article 
The oil-absorbing properties of kapok fibre - a commentary 
Quek, CS; Ngadi, N; Zaini, MAA; , 
2020 
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD 
ABINGDON 
507-512 
WOS:000522790700001 
This paper highlights the oil absorbing properties of natural and modified kapok fibres. The discussion is centred on the waxy layer and hydrophobic nature that translate the excellent oil removal performance of kapok fibre. A stirring had shown that the oil absorption by natural kapok could be greatly enhanced to over 200 g/g. For dispersed oil in wastewater, a depth filtrating system with rotatable and taper-shaped filter column with kapok fibre was reported to recover 32.3 g/g of the oils. Several modifications to boost the performance of kapok fibre as in acetylation, solvent treatment, fibre hybridization, assembly structure and design, etc. are identified and discussed to shed some light into future prospective in oil and emulsion removal. So far, all the studies have shown that kapok fibre and its modified counterparts are promising green oil absorbents.