Continuous oil–water separation by utilizing novel natural hollow fibers: evaluation and potential applications

Desert rose seed (DRS) fibers are derived from seed pods of Adenium obesum plants, which belong to the Apocynaceae family. DRS fibers are primarily indigenous to southern Africa and greater Arabia but can also be found in various regions spanning China, Thailand, and India. Despite numerous studies that have focused on the characterization and utilization of various parts of Adenium obesum plants, the physical characterization and absorption behavior of desert rose seed fibers have not yet been explored. Thus, the objective of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the morphology, chemical composition, structural dimensions, fiber surface absorption characteristics, and tensile strength properties of these fibers. Desert rose seed fibers are inherently exceptional fibers resembling a “cross flower” cross-sectional structure that exhibits a unique hollow formation with thin fiber walls and a spacious lumen of fiber samples. The results demonstrate that the density of the fibers obtained from desert rose seed is comparatively low (0.48 g/cm3), while the moisture content was noted as 10.3