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Constructing robust and magnetic PU sponges modified with Fe3O4/GO nanohybrids for efficient oil/water separation

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Abstract

Metal oxides, due to their low cost, environmental friendliness and wide sources, have attracted great attention. We chose iron oxide/graphene oxide (Fe3O4/GO) nanohybrids to modify a PU sponge to increase the surface roughness of the sponge without damaging its inherent structural properties. The composite was then treated with octadecane thiol to reduce the surface energy and produce a superhydrophobic and oleophilic absorption material with a water contact angle of 157°. From the absorption experiment with simulated oily water (including diesel oil, lubricating oil, rapeseed oil, chloroform, N,N-dimethyl formamide, tetrahydrofuran, ethanol and acetone), it was found that the Fe3O4/GO-modified PU sponge could absorb up to 80–170 times its own weight while showing outstanding recyclability achieved by squeeze/absorption cycles. Moreover, the composite absorption material exhibited weak magnetic properties, suggesting its recycling practicability. These results provide a quick and simple strategy to deal with oil spills and chemical leakage.

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Acknowledgments

The research work is funded by the Zhenjiang Key Research and Development Program (GY2021004), the Opening Project of Henan Province Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Rehabilitation Technology (CJSP2021006), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Treatment Technology and Materials, and Innovation and Practice fund of Jiangsu University Industrial Center (ZXJG2021072).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, People’s Republic of China

    Dongdong Ge, Yun Zhang, Guilong Wang & Jun Liu

  2. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, People’s Republic of China

    Zhenshan Cui & Xiaomeng Lv

  3. Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, People’s Republic of China

    Jun Liu

  4. Henan Province Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Rehabilitation Technology, Pingdingshan, 467036, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaomeng Lv

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  1. Dongdong Ge
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Ge, D., Zhang, Y., Cui, Z. et al. Constructing robust and magnetic PU sponges modified with Fe3O4/GO nanohybrids for efficient oil/water separation. J Coat Technol Res 20, 661–670 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-022-00699-7

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