Abstract

In this study, we present a novel composite material based on commercially available polyurethane foams functionalized with colloidal superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and submicrometer polytetrafluoroethylene particles, which can efficiently separate oil from water. Untreated foam surfaces are inherently hydrophobic and oleophobic, but they can be rendered water-repellent and oil-absorbing by a solvent-free, electrostatic polytetrafluoroethylene particle deposition technique. It was found that combined functionalization of the polytetrafluoroethylene-treated foam surfaces with colloidal iron oxide nanoparticles significantly increases the speed of oil absorption. Detailed microscopic and wettability studies reveal that the combined effects of the surface morphology and of the chemistry of the functionalized foams greatly affect the oil-absorption dynamics. In particular, nanoparticle capping molecules are found to play a major role in this mechanism. In addition to the water-repellent and oil-absorbing capabilities, the functionalized foams exhibit also magnetic responsivity. Finally, due to their light weight, they float easily on water. Hence, by simply moving them around oil-polluted waters using a magnet, they can absorb the floating oil from the polluted regions, thereby purifying the water underneath. This low-cost process can easily be scaled up to clean large-area oil spills in water

Autore Pugliese

• Cozzoli Pantaleo Davide

Tutti gli autori

• P. Calcagnile , D. Fragouli , I. S. Bayer , G. C. Anyfantis , L. Martiradonna , P. D. Cozzoli , R. Cingolani , A. Athanassiou

Titolo volume/Rivista

ACS NANO

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

1936-0851

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

305

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Numero di citazioni Scopus

322

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile