Electrospun PS/PAN fibers with improved mechanical property for removal of oil from water

Mar Pollut Bull. 2015 Apr 15;93(1-2):75-80. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.02.012. Epub 2015 Mar 6.

Abstract

A mechanically robust and high-capacity oil sorbent is prepared by electrospinning a blend of polystyrene (PS) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The morphology, oil sorption capacity and mechanical property of the fibers formed in different compositions are investigated in detail. It is shown that the oil sorption capacity is a result of both the chemical composition and the specific surface area which related to diameter size. The addition of PAN as a component in fibrous sorbents can significantly improve the mechanical properties of PS fibers. Moreover, the oil sorption capacity increases with decreasing fiber diameter. The results also show that the maximum sorption capacities of the PS/PAN sorbent for pump oil, peanut oil, diesel, and gasoline were 194.85, 131.70, 66.75, and 43.38 g g(-1), respectively. Additionally, the sorbent exhibits quick oil sorption speed as well as high buoyancy, which make it a promising candidate for use as an oil spill cleanup sorbent.

Keywords: Electrospinning; Mechanical property; Oil sorption capacity; PS/PAN fiber.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylic Resins / chemistry*
  • Environmental Restoration and Remediation / methods*
  • Gasoline
  • Models, Chemical
  • Petroleum Pollution*
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*

Substances

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Gasoline
  • Polystyrenes
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Water
  • polyacrylonitrile