Fallen leaves as a possible decision to improve surface water bodies’ quality in Belaya River basin (Russia)

Currently, human activities significantly contribute to water pollution of natural water bodies. Pollution of water bodies with oil and petroleum products, especially in an urbanized area, is caused by the discharge of wastewater containing these products, as well as by oil leaks and emergencies. Similar pollution is typical for the water bodies in the basin of the Belaya River (Bashkortostan Republic, Russia), which is considered in this work. Bibliometric analysis by using VOSviewer revealed that pollution of water bodies is associated with crude oil pollution. For the remediation of water from crude oil, natural materials are widely used, including the sorbent from fallen leaves. Trees in cities produce a significant volume of fallen leaves every fall, which become plant waste. During the transition of the world community to a circular economy, fallen leaves should be considered as a material for obtaining a biosorbent. Five fraction sizes of ?cer platanoides were studied to determine crude oil absorption. It has been established that particles with a size from one to two millimeters have the largest sorption capacity (5.41?5.77 g/g). Fallen leaves of ?cer platanoides are capable of absorbing crude oil and can be recommended for treating polluted water from crude oil and petroleum products. The obtained proof of the ability of ?cer platanoides leaves to absorb oil with their high buoyancy can be used in further studies of oil sorption process from water and the interaction of sorbent with oil in an aqueous medium under static and dynamic conditions.