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Super-hydrophilic/oleophobic chitosan/acrylamide hydrogel: an efficient water/oil separation filter

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Abstract

Oil spills are one of the most serious problems which have a negative effect on our environment especially on the marine ecosystem. Thus, water/oil separation is considered as an important process to eliminate the oily pollutants. In the current study, a super-hydrophilic and super-oleophobic filter was prepared by in situ synthesis of chitosan/acrylamide hydrogel on the cotton fabric as a substrate. Different concentrations of chitosan and acrylamide monomers, cross-linking agent (MBA), and thermal initiator (APS) were tested by the Design Expert 7.0.0 Central Composite (CCD) software and the water absorption capacity of hydrogels were evaluated by a tea-bag method. The optimum concentration of MBA and APS was measured 0.03 g and 0.1 g, respectively. The optimal hydrogel-based filter was characterized by FTIR and SEM tests. The results confirm the successful synthesis of chitosan/acrylamide hydrogel with a porous structure on the cotton fabric. In addition, according to the results of the swelling study, the optimal synthesized hydrogel has high water retention capacity with a great stability in the seawater-simulated medium. Moreover, contact angle measurement and water/oil separation test demonstrate the super-hydrophilic/oleophobic behavior and high efficiency and durability of filter for water/oil separation.

Statement: chitosan/acrylamide composite hydrogel as a water/oil separation filter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amirkabir University of Technology, Hafez Ave, Tehran, Iran

    Sheyda Kordjazi, Kourosh Kamyab & Nahid Hemmatinejad

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  1. Sheyda Kordjazi
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  2. Kourosh Kamyab
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  3. Nahid Hemmatinejad
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Correspondence to Sheyda Kordjazi.

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Kordjazi, S., Kamyab, K. & Hemmatinejad, N. Super-hydrophilic/oleophobic chitosan/acrylamide hydrogel: an efficient water/oil separation filter. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 3, 167–176 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-020-00150-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-020-00150-8

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