Use of magnetic carbon composites from renewable resource materials for oil spill clean up and recovery

A method of separating a liquid hydrocarbon material from a body of water, comprising the steps of:

• (a) mixing a predetermined amount of magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites with a liquid hydrocarbon material dispersed in a body of water to allow the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each to be adhered by an amount of the liquid hydrocarbon material to form a mixture;
• (b) applying a magnetic force to the mixture to attract the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each adhered by an amount of the liquid hydrocarbon material;
• and
• (c) removing the body of water from the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each adhered by the amount of the liquid hydrocarbon material while maintaining the applied magnetic force,
• wherein the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites is formed by:
• subjecting a first metal lignosulfonate to microwave radiation, for a period of time effective to allow the predetermined amount of carbon-metal nanocomposites to be formed, wherein a substantial amount of carbon in the predetermined amount magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites has a first peak at 1587 cm−1 and a second peak at 1330 cm−1 or a first peak at 1590 cm−1 and a second peak at 1330 cm−1 in Raman spectroscopy.