The extraordinary adsorptive capacity of corn cob granulate with respect to oil adsorption could be confirmed by the results of this project. Products from corn cob granulate may be used as adsorptive agents for as diverse media as water, oil, dyes and odors or even cations. Corn cob granulate is inert and not toxic and can therefore be disposed of with relative ease.
Within the project, an economically feasible process has been developed and realized in the form of a 40 kg/h pilot plant. This pilot plant can produce corn cob granulate for diverse applications. The most profitable process is the combined production of adsorption agent for oil for disaster control and cat litter. The process consists of a cutting mill, combined with an air separator. In a (decentralized) plant with a capacity of 3.000 t/a the price for oil adsorption material must be in exceed 0.60 €/kg and that for cat litter 0,30 €/kg. A market analysis shows that these prices are realistic.