Fabrication of highly hydrophilic filter using natural and hydrothermally treated mica nanoparticles for efficient waste oil-water separation

Udara Bimendra Gunatilake; Jayasundera Bandara

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.01.002

Fabrication of highly hydrophilic filter using natural and hydrothermally treated mica nanoparticles for efficient waste oil-water separation

J Environ Manage. 2017 Apr 15:191:96-104. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.01.002. Epub 2017 Jan 12.

Authors

Udara Bimendra Gunatilake¹, Jayasundera Bandara²

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, CP 20000, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
² National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, CP 20000, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: bandaraj@ifs.ac.lk.

PMID: 28088726
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.01.002

Abstract

For the effective oil/water separation, a novel superhydrophilic (underwater superoleophobic) filter is fabricated with the naturally and hydrothermally treated mica particles. To fabricate a double layered filter, hydrothermally treated mica particles were initially electrodeposited on a stainless steel mesh and a natural mica particles were sprayed on the first hydrothermally deposited mica layer. The double layered mica coated membrane showed superamphiphilic and superhydrophilic/superoleophobic (contact angle >159°) characteristics in air and underwater respectively. The membrane can separate range of oil-water mixtures with oil/water separation efficiency over ∼99%. Properties of double layered mica membrane were investigated and noted that the surface adhesion properties of mica is enhanced by the hydrothermal treatment of mica and the higher roughness of the mica layer is maintained by the natural mica.

Keywords: Mica; Oil-water separation; Super wetting membrane; Superhydrophilic; Underwater superoleophobicity.

MeSH terms

Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Nanoparticles
Oils*
Surface Properties
Wastewater*

Substances

Oils
Waste Water