Functionalized Fe3O4-based methyl methacrylate Pickering PolyHIPE composites costabilized by fluorinated block copolymer for oil/water separation. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Azhar, Umair; Arif, Muhammad; Bashir, Muhammad Sohail; Babar, Muhammad; Sagir, Muhammad; Yasin, Ghulam
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 309:Part 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Methyl methacrylate polyHIPE -- Oil-water separation -- High internal phase emulsion -- Macroporous -- Composites -- Fluorinated block copolymer; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136526
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: High internal phase emulsion (HIPE) technology has been emerged as a prodigious source to create tailor-made porous structures. This type of emulsion contains significantly higher amount of water in it, which is only possible with special type of stabilizers. Most specifically, the monomers with sufficiently high solubility in water such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) make it more cumbersome to stabilize in the form of HIPE. Here we have reported the combination of stabilizers including fluorinated block copolymer Poly (2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate- b -Poly(trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA- b -PTFEMA) and humic acid modified iron-oxide (HA-Fe3 O4 ) nanoparticles (NPs) to stabilize HIPE, which resulted in highly porous and interconnected products. Fluorinated block copolymers with inherent hydrophobic nature along with iron oxide nanoparticles increased the water repellency of MMA based polymeric monoliths. Increasing the amount of stabilizer increased the porosity and BET specific surface area to 83.8% and 27 ± 0.8 μm, respectively. The prepared porous materials demonstrated hydrophobic characteristics while adsorbing oil from the surface of water up to 16 g/g. Moreover, the adsorbed oil from the prepared monolith was recovered by using simple centrifugation method without damaging the structure. This research opens new avenues to prepare more useful oil and water separation materials such as membranes, pollutant adsorbers, and so on. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Fluorinated block copolymer (PDMAEMA- b -PHFBA) is synthesized. Humic-acid modified iron oxide nanoparticles are prepared. High internal phase emulsions of MMA are stabilized. Variation in the porosities and specific surface areas are controlled. Application is demonstrated in terms of oil/water separation.