Oil absorption and reclamation methods

摘要

A method of absorbing oil or wax by contacting the oil or wax with a nonwoven or woven fabric prepared from a polyvinyl alcohol fiber. A method of recovering oil or wax contained in such a fabric using water and at a rate surprisingly faster than the rate of oil or wax recovery from cotton. A method of absorbing oil or wax from a mixture of oil or wax and sand by contacting the mixture with a fabric made from polyvinyl alcohol. Method of disposing of such fabrics which have been soiled or saturated with the oil or wax. The method is also applicable to other hydrocarbons such as aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvents.