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Superhydrophobic filter paper via an improved phase separation process for oil/water separation: study on surface morphology, composition and wettability

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Abstract

In this study, a novel method including the concurrent use of nanoparticles and non-solvent is proposed for surface modification of filter papers with the aim of achieving superhydrophobicity that can be used in oil/water separation applications. The effects of polymer, nanoparticle and non-solvent contents were investigated on the surface morphology, composition and wettability of the samples. A comparison was also made between the solution casting and dip-coating techniques. It was found that the dip-coating technique was not as efficient as solution casting because of the lower adsorption of polystyrene macromolecules onto the papers’ surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy results demonstrated the role of non-solvent in the surface morphology of the coatings. In fact, in the absence of non-solvent, superhydrophobicity was not achieved. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirmed that the presence of non-solvent also changed the surface composition of the coatings significantly. The optimum composition was found to have promising potentials in the separation of oil from water because of the induced superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties. The findings of this fundamental research could be exploited in other systems for more efficient oil/water separating devices.

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Acknowledgments

Partial financial support from the Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative is gratefully appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box 36155-163, Shahrood, Iran

    Soheil Piltan & Javad Seyfi

  2. Applied Science Nano Research Group, ASNARKA, Tehran, 1619948753, Iran

    Iman Hejazi & Seyed Mohammad Davachi

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box 13185-768, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Mohammad Davachi

  4. Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Hossein Ali Khonakdar

Authors
  1. Soheil Piltan
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  2. Javad Seyfi
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  3. Iman Hejazi
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  4. Seyed Mohammad Davachi
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  5. Hossein Ali Khonakdar
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Javad Seyfi or Iman Hejazi.

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Piltan, S., Seyfi, J., Hejazi, I. et al. Superhydrophobic filter paper via an improved phase separation process for oil/water separation: study on surface morphology, composition and wettability. Cellulose 23, 3913–3924 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-1059-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-1059-y

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