Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A versatile hydrogel platform for oil/water separation, dye adsorption, and wastewater purification

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Cellulose Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The development of a versatile platform that can separate oil/water mixture, remove dye from water, and purify wastewater is extremely desirable, yet still hard to realize. Herein, to address this challenge, a composite hydrogel was produced by freezing–thawing treatment using chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and carbon black as the raw materials. The obtained hydrogel displayed both slippery oil-repellency and water-affinity in air, underwater, when submerged in oil, and exploiting this special wettability, the hydrogel coated mesh can be used to separate oil/water mixtures efficiently. After 25 oil–water separation cycles, the hydrogel-coated filter still had a separation efficiency of over 98%. With its superhydrophilicity and active functional groups, the resulting hydrogel was able to absorb dye molecules dissolved in water effectively. Due to the photothermal effect of carbon black, the local temperature of the hydrogel was increasing quickly under sunlight illustration, which allowed it to be an advanced platform for daily wastewater purification through solar distillation.

Graphical abstract

A versatile hydrogel platform for oil–water separation, dye adsorption, and domestic wastewater purification was developed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnold R, Burnett DB, Elphick J, Feeley T, Galbrun M, Hightower M, Jiang Z, Khan M, Lavery M, Luffey F (2004) Managing water-from waste to resource. Oilfield Rev 16:26–41

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aurell J, Gullett BK (2010) Aerostat sampling of PCDD/PCDF emissions from the Gulf oil spill in situ burns. Environ Sci Technol 44:9431–9437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bazrafshan E, Mostafapour FK, Hosseini AR, Khorshid AR, Mahvi AH (2013) Decolorisation of Reactive Red 120 dye by using single-walled carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions. J Chem 2013:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandi PES, Senthilkumar SGK, Selvaraju N (2021) A detailed insight on fabricated porous chitosan in eliminating synthetic anionic dyes from single and multi-adsorptive systems with related studies. Chemosphere 281:103706

    Google Scholar 

  • Das B, Voggu R, Rout CS, Rao CNR (2008) Changes in the electronic structure and properties of graphene induced by molecular charge-transfer. Chem Commun 5155–5157

  • Fowkes FM (1964) Attractive Force at Interface. Ind Eng Chem 56:40–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fowkes FM, Huang YC, Shah BA, Kulp MJ, Lloyd TB (1988) Interaction of Hydrophobized Filaments in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions. Colloids Surf 29:243–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gelderena LV, Malmquistb LMV, Jomaas G (2017) Vaporization order and burning efficiency of crude oils during in-situ burning on water. Fuel 191:528–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George ZK, Dimitrios NB, Nikolaos KL (2008) Low-Swelling Chitosan Derivatives as Biosorbents for basic Dyes. Langmuir 24:4791–4799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George ZK, Margaritis K, Nikolaos KL (2010) Relating Interactions of Dye Molecules with Chitosan to Adsorption Kinetic Data. Langmuir 26:9617–9626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holkar CR, Jadhav AJ, Pinjari DV, Mahamuni NM, Pandit AB (2016) A critical review on textile wastewater treatments: Possible approaches. J Environ Manage 182:351–366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalsoom U, Bhatti HN, Asgher M (2015) Characterization of plant peroxidases and their potential for degradation of dyes: a review. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 176:1529–1550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kintisch E (2010) An audacious decision in crisis gets cautious praise. Science 329:735–736

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong WT, Li FR, Pan YL, Zhao XZ (2021) Hygro-responsive, Photo-decomposed Superoleophobic/Superhydrophilic Coating for On-Demand Oil-Water Separation. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 13:35142–35152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Su Y, Guan J, Cao J, Zhang R, He M, Gao K, Zhou L, Jiang Z (2018) 2D heterostructure membranes with sunlight-driven self-cleaning ability for highly efficient oil-water separation. Adv Funct Mater 28:1706545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu JW, Gao ZS, Xu T, Zhu XT, Miao X, Song YM, Ren GN, Li XM (2020) Robust Hydrogel Coating with Oil-Repellent Property in Air, Water, and Oil Surroundings. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 12:49138–49145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mostefa NM, Tir M (2004) Coupling flocculation with electroflotation for waste oil/water emulsion treatment. Optimization of the Operating Conditions Desalination 161:115–121

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nam C, Li H, Zhang G, Lutz LR, Nazari B, Colby RH, Chung TCM (2018) Practical oil spill recovery by a combination of polyolefin absorbent and mechanical skimmer. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 6:12036–12045

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolaos KL, George ZK, Alexandros AV, Dimitrios NB (2007) Chitosan Derivatives as Biosorbents for Basic Dyes. Langmuir 23:7634–7643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owens DK, Wendt RC (1969) Estimation of the Surface Free Energy of Polymers. J Appl Polym Sci 13:1741–1747

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson CH, Rice SD, Short JW, Esler D, Bodkin JL, Ballachey BE, Irons DB (2003) Long-term ecosystem response to the exxon valdez oil spill. Science 302:2082–2086

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramesha GK, Vijaya Kumara A, Muralidhara HB, Sampath S (2011) Graphene and graphene oxide as effective adsorbents toward anionic and cationic dyes. J Colloid Interface Sci 361:270–277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saruchi KBS, Jindal R, Kumar V (2015) The adsorption of crude oil from an aqueous solution using a gum tragacanth polyacrylic acid based hydrogel. Petrol Sci Technol 33:278–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saruchi KV, Vikas P, Kumar R, Kumar B, Kaur M (2016a) Low cost natural polysaccharide and vinyl monomer based IPN for the removal of crude oil from water. J Petrol Sci Eng 141:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saruchi KV, Kaith BS, Jindal R (2016b) Synthesis of Hybrid Ion Exchanger for Rhodamine B Dye Removal: Equilibrium, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies. Ind Eng Chem Res 55:10492–10499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saruchi SM, Hatshan MR, Kumar V, Rana A (2021) Sequestration of Eosin Dye by Magnesium (II)-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Its Kinetic, Isotherm, and Thermodynamic Studies. J Chem Eng Data 66:646–657

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saruchi, Vaneet K (2019) Separation of crude oil from water using chitosan based hydrogel. Cellulose 26: 6229–6239

  • Saruchi, Thakur P, Kumar V (2019) Kinetics and thermodynamic studies for removal of methylene blue dye by biosynthesize copper oxide nanoparticles and its antibacterial activity. J Environ Health Sci 17: 367–376

  • Saththasivam J, Loganathan K, Sarp S (2016) An overview of oil-water separation using gas flotation systems. Chemosphere 144:671–680

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shannon MA, Bohn PW, Elimelech M, Georgiadis JG, Mariñas BJ, Mayes AM (2008) Science and technology for water purification in the coming decades. Nature 452:337–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian XX, Zhu HS, Meng X, Wang J, Zheng CL, Xia YZ, Xiong Z (2020) Amphiphilic Calcium Alginate Carbon Aerogels: Broad-Spectrum Adsorbents for Ionic and Solvent Dyes with Multiple Functions for Decolorized Oil-Water Separation. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng 8:12755–12767

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turano E, Curcio S, Paola MGD, Calabrò V, Iorio G (2002) An integrated centrifugation-ultrafiltration system in the treatment of olive mill wastewater. J Membr Sci 209:519–531

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B, Liang W, Guo Z, Liu W (2015) Biomimetic super-lyophobic and super-lyophilic materials applied for oil/water separation: a new strategy beyond nature. Chem Soc Rev 44:336–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang HQ, Li JC, Yu X, Zhao XY, Zeng XH, Xu F, Tang X, Sun Y, Lin L (2021) Facile fabrication of super-hydrophilic cellulose hydrogel-coated mesh using deep eutectic solvent for efficient gravity-driven oil/water separation. Cellulose 28:949–960

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei YB, Qi H, Gong X, Zhao SF (2018) Specially wettable membranes for oil-water separation. Adv Mater Interfaces 5:1800576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao JL, Lv WY, Xie Z, Tan YQ, Song YH, Zheng Q (2016) Environment-friendly reduced graphene oxide as a broad-spectrum adsorbent for anionic and cationic dyes via π-π interaction. J Mater Chem A 4:12126–12135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xue ZX, Cao YZ, Liu N, Feng L, Jiang L (2014) Special wettable materials for oil/water separation. J Mater Chem A 2:2445–2460

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Xie AT, Cui JY, Chen YY, Lang JH, Li CX, Yan YS, Dai JD (2020) An acid-alkali-salt resistant cellulose membrane by rapidly depositing polydopamine and assembling BaSO4 nanosheets for oil/water separation. Cellulose 27:5169–5178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan JK, Liu XG, Akbulut O, Hu JQ, Suib SL, Kong J, Stellacci F (2008) Superwetting nanowire membranes for selective absorption. Nat Nanotechnol 3:332–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S, Jiang G, Gao S, Jin H, Zhu Y, Zhang F, Jin J (2018) Cupric Phosphate Nanosheets-Wrapped Inorganic Membranes with Superhydrophilic and Outstanding Anticrude Oil-Fouling Property for Oil/Water Separation. ACS Nano 12:795–803

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu H, Chen D, Li N, Xu Q, Li H, He J, Lu J (2017) Dual-layer copper mesh for integrated oil-water separation and water purification. Appl Catal B 200:594–600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (11704321) and Yantai Science and Technology Plan Projects (2019XDHZ087).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Material Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai, 264405, China

    Fangchao Li, Gan Miao, Zhongshuai Gao, Ting Xu, Xiaotao Zhu, Yuanming Song, Guina Ren & Xiangming Li

  2. Shandong Key Laboratory of Optical Communication Science and Technology, School of Physics Science and Information Technology, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, 252000, China

    Xiao Miao

Authors
  1. Fangchao Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gan Miao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhongshuai Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ting Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiaotao Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiao Miao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yuanming Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Guina Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Xiangming Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiaotao Zhu or Guina Ren.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

ESM 1

Supporting Information: Experimental details and further information on characterization associated with this paper can be found in this section.(DOC 9451 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, F., Miao, G., Gao, Z. et al. A versatile hydrogel platform for oil/water separation, dye adsorption, and wastewater purification. Cellulose 29, 4427–4438 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-022-04535-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-022-04535-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation