A study on the preparation of superhydrophobic Silane-MXene modified melamine foam and its oil-water separation performance
Wei Wang, Xiangning Song, Yan Xie, Xuejia Sheng, Shucai Zhang
Abstract
In recent years, oil spills and organic pollution have caused severe damage to the ecological environment. Therefore, the treatment of oily wastewater has become a serious challenge. Here, with the help of melamine foams as a substrate, MXene nano-rough structures were built, and cetyltrimethoxysilane was grafted onto their surfaces to create an oil-absorbing material that is both user-friendly and effective at oil-water separation. Due to the nano structures of MXene were constructed and the long-chain silanes were modified on the foam surface, the material became superhydrophobic. In addition to being able to selectively absorb oils from an oil/water mixture (including emulsified oils) up to 111 times its weight, the modified foam was found to have a water contact angle of 157 which could selectively absorb oil but not water. Furthermore, it demonstrated sustained hydrophobicity and lipophilicity after experiencing strong acid/alkali or prolonged high-temperature treatment, allowing for various scenarios where oil-water separation can be used in severe settings without compromising performance.