Protonated cross-linkable nanocomposite coatings with outstanding underwater superoleophobic and anti-viscous oil-fouling properties for crude oil/water separation

Xiaojing Su; Shengqi Huang; Wenjian Wu; Kunquan Li; Huali Xie; Yunhui Wu; Xiaofan Zhang; Xin Xie

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129129

Protonated cross-linkable nanocomposite coatings with outstanding underwater superoleophobic and anti-viscous oil-fouling properties for crude oil/water separation

J Hazard Mater. 2022 Aug 15:436:129129. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129129. Epub 2022 May 11.

Authors

Xiaojing Su¹, Shengqi Huang¹, Wenjian Wu², Kunquan Li¹, Huali Xie¹, Yunhui Wu¹, Xiaofan Zhang¹, Xin Xie³

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China.
² School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China. Electronic address: wuwj@dgut.edu.cn.
³ The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China. Electronic address: msxx@mail.scut.edu.cn.

PMID: 35584584
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129129

Abstract

Superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic coatings that effectively prevent viscous oil contamination have been of considerable interest for the great potential in oil spill remediation and oilfield wastewater treatment. In the present work, a protonated cross-linkable nanocomposite coating with robust underwater superoleophobicity and intensified hydration capability is proposed through the synthesis of active polymeric nanocomplex (PNC), cross-linking reaction between PNC and hydrophilic chitosan (CS), and final protonation to further improve water affinity. Benefiting from the hierarchical structure and strong hydration capability induced by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bondings, the nanocomposite coating coated textile exhibits excellent superhydrophilicity (within 0.28 s with water contact angle reaching 0°), underwater superoleophobicity (underwater crude oil contact angle at 160°), and ultralow oil adhesion even to highly viscous silicone oil. Moreover, the nanocomposite coating presents a robust chemical resistance, mechanical tolerance, and storage stability. Simultaneously, the nanocomposite coating adapts well to various porous substrates (e.g., stainless steel mesh and Ni sponge) with great anti-oil-fouling and self-cleaning performances. Importantly, the coating coated textile is successfully applied in crude oil/water separation with excellent efficiency and repeatability. The findings conceivably stand out as a new methodology to fabricate superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic materials with outstanding anti-viscous oil-fouling property for practically treating oily wastewater.

Keywords: Anti-viscous oil-fouling; Cross-linkable nanocomposite coating; Crude oil/water separation; Protonation; Underwater superoleophobicity.