Rapid adsorption for oil using superhydrophobic and superoleophilic polyurethane sponge. Issue 11 (5th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Beibei; Liu, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Xinying; Zou, Junchen; Chai, Wenbo; Lou, Yanyan
• Is Part Of: Journal of chemical technology & biotechnology. Volume 90:Issue 11(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 2106
• Page End: 2112
• Publication Date: 2015-02-05
• Subjects: Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Technical -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Industries -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.4646
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-2575

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jctb4646-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jctb4646-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p id="jctb4646-para-0001">Cleanup of oil spills is a worldwide task needed to avoid serious environmental pollution. Recently, polyurethane (PU) sponge has been used as an oil absorbent, however, its efficacy is limited by its hydrophilic property.</p> </sec> <sec id="jctb4646-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p id="jctb4646-para-0002">This work describes the modification of PU sponge with ZnO microrods and palmitic acid (PA). A coating of ZnO microrods made the surface of PU sponge rough, which improved the hydrophobicity and oil‐adsorption capacity of the sponge. Further immersion in PA solution reduced the surface energy, which enabled the rough surface to be superhydrophobic (water contact angle (CA) > 150°). The contact angles of water and oil on the prepared ZnO and PA modified (ZnO‐PA sponge) sponge were 168.9° and 0°, respectively. Adsorption capacities of ZnO‐PA sponge varied between 33 and 44 g g<sup>−1</sup> for different oil samples, which were higher than those of the non‐modified PU sponge (21–23 g g<sup>−1</sup>). Adsorption equilibrium for the adsorption process of ZnO‐PA sponge was achieved within tens of seconds. Additionally, the ZnO‐PA sponge showed excellent selectivity for oil over water, and high reusability.</p> </sec> <sec id="jctb4646-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSION</title> <p id="jctb4646-para-0003">These findings indicated that the superhydrophobic PU sponge was a promising oil adsorbent for large‐scale oil‐spill collection. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry</p> </sec> </abstract>