Method for cleaning up oil spills using multi-layered carbon fiber-based absorbents

A method of cleaning up oil spills using a multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent, the method comprises the steps of:

• providing an oil-contaminated area comprising a quantity of oil, a first storage vessel, an oil extraction machine, and a multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent;
• wherein the multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent is manufactured by the method comprising the steps of:
• providing a quantity of carbon fibers, a production vessel, a reaction vessel, a condenser, an agitation element, a drying element, a functionalizing agent, a reaction agent, a first rinsing agent, and a second rinsing agent, adding the quantity carbon fibers in the production vessel with the quantity of functionalizing agent to form a production batch;
• executing a functionalization process on the production batch to create a functionalized batch, wherein the quantity of fibers is functionalized to react with the reaction agent;
• rinsing the functionalized batch with the first rinsing agent;
• drying the functionalized batch with the drying element;
• placing the functionalized batch and the reaction agent in the reaction vessel with the condenser attached to form a reaction batch;
• heating the reaction vessel to create a quantity of modified carbon fibers, wherein the quantity of modified carbon fibers is oleophilic;
• rinsing the quantity of modified carbon fibers with the second rinsing agent;
• and drying the quantity of modified carbon fibers with the drying element;
• distributing the multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent to the oil-contaminated area, wherein the multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent is configured to extract the quantity of oil from the oil-contaminated area while maintaining hydrophobic;
• extracting the quantity of oil from the multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent through the oil extraction machine;
• and
• collecting the extracted quantity of oil into the first storage vessel.