a b s t r a c t
The aim of this study is to investigate the utilization of silkworm cocoon waste, such as pierced or stained
cocoons, as a sorbent material for the removal of motor and vegetable oils from water. The oil-sorption
capacity, rate and reusability of the material were evaluated. The results show the high sorption capacity
of the silkworm cocoonwaste sorbent (42–52 goil/gsorbent formotor oil and 37–60 goil/gsorbent for vegetable
oil). The oil sorbed onto the material could be recovered by squeezing the sorbent, and the squeezed
material showed an oil-sorption capacity over 15 goil/gsorbent. We concluded that the material shows a
high performance as a low cost and environmental friendly sorbent for the removal of oil from water.