Anti-corrosive hierarchical structured copper mesh film with superhydrophilicity and underwater low adhesive superoleophobicity for highly efficient oil–water separation

Abstract

A novel oil–water separation copper mesh film with special anti-corrosive ability was prepared by a simple electrodeposition process.

Oil‐Water Separation: A Gift from the Desert

“…Following this strategy, many mesh and porous materials that are underwater superoleophobic have been fabricated, and these materials have been successfully applied in oil-water separation. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] For example, Jiang and co-workers coated microscale porous stainless steel mesh with a nanostructured hydrogel to give a novel underwater superoleophobic rough mesh. [ 18 ] This hydrogelcoated mesh effi ciently removed water from water-oil mixtures and did not become fouled with oil.…”

“…Problems that have not been adequately addressed are the cost of the materials, the equipment required, and the preparation processes required -all of which prevent large-scale applications. Another issue is that the most widely used materials are metal meshes and porous polymers that have rough microscale-nanoscale hierarchical structures, which are generally formed using chemical corrosion or other chemical methods, [20][21][22][23][24][25] meaning that solving one environmental problem (oil pollution) could cause another (disposing of the waste produced to create the superoleophobic material). It is therefore very important that we develop or fi nd stable materials that are underwater superoleophobic and can be used to simply, cheaply, and effi ciently separate large amounts of oil-water mixtures.…”

“…"Water-removing" superhydrophilic and superoleophobic materials have been developed to address the problems described above, and they have proved extremely effective in practical applications. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] However, it is harder to produce a superoleophobic material (with an oil contact angle (OCA) greater than 150°) than to produce a superhydrophobic material because the surface tensions of oils are lower than the surface tension of water. [26][27][28][29][30] A surface that is superoleophobic several metal elements, as shown in Figure S1 of the Supporting Information.…”

Hierarchical nanoparticle-induced superhydrophilic and under-water superoleophobic Cu foam with ultrahigh water permeability for effective oil/water separation

“…For the real world applications, a good anti-corrosive property means that the membrane can operate continuously without degeneration of efficiency even in corrosive oil-containing wastewater. 64 Fig. to repel strong corrosive liquids.…”

“…25,26 Oil/water separation faces severe challenges due to the frequent crude oil spill accidents and the increasing amount of industrial wastewater. Decorating metal mesh via hydrophilic components like hydrogel, 27 surfactant, 28 copper, 29 Cu(OH) 2 , 30 palygorskite, 31 titanium dioxides, 32, 33 tungsten oxide, 34 zeolite, 35 nickel, 36 etc. Decorating metal mesh via hydrophilic components like hydrogel, 27 surfactant, 28 copper, 29 Cu(OH) 2 , 30 palygorskite, 31 titanium dioxides, 32, 33 tungsten oxide, 34 zeolite, 35 nickel, 36 etc.…”