Mechanically-robust electrospun nanocomposite fiber membranes for oil and water separation

Marat Nueraji; Zhexenbek Toktarbay; Aida Ardakkyzy; Deepak Sridhar; Hassan Algadi; Ben Bin Xu; Jalal T Althakafy; Abdullah K Alanazi; Hala M Abo-Dief; Salimgerey Adilov; Zhanhu Guo

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115212

Mechanically-robust electrospun nanocomposite fiber membranes for oil and water separation

Environ Res. 2023 Mar 1:220:115212. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115212. Epub 2023 Jan 6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Edward R. Murrow High School, Brooklyn, NY, 11230, USA.
² Renewable Energy Systems and Material Science Laboratory, National Laboratory Astana (NLA), Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan. Electronic address: zhexenbek.toktarbay@nu.edu.kz.
³ Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan.
⁴ Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA; Zentek Ltd. 24 Corporate Crt, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5G5, Canada.
⁵ Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Najran University, Najran, 11001, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 24230, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Department of Science and Technology, University College-Ranyah, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia.
¹⁰ Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan. Electronic address: sadilov@nu.edu.kz.
¹¹ Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA; Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK; Integrated Composites Lab (ICL), Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK. Electronic address: zhanhu.guo@northumbria.ac.uk.

PMID: 36623680
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115212

Abstract

Mechanically-robust nanocomposite membranes have been developed via crosslinking chemistry and electrospinning technique based on the rational selection of dispersed phase materials with high Young's modulus (i.e., graphene and multiwalled carbon nanotubes) and Cassie-Baxter design and used for oil and water separation. Proper selection of dispersed phase materials can enhance the stiffness of nanocomposite fiber membranes while their length has to be larger than their critical length. Chemical modification of the dispersed phase materials with fluorochemcials and their induced roughness were critical to achieve superhydrophobocity. Surface analytic tools including goniometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were applied to characterize the superhydrophobic nanocomposite membranes. An AFM-based nanoindentation technique was used to measure quantitativly the stiffness of the nanocomposite membranes for local region and whole composites, compared with the results by a tensile test technique. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques were used to confirm composition and formation of nanocomposite membranes. These membranes demonstrated excellent oil/water separation. This work has potential application in the field of water purification and remediation.

Keywords: Electrospinning; Membrane; Oil; Polymer nanocomposites; Separation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Nanocomposites* / chemistry
Nanotubes, Carbon* / chemistry
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Substances

Nanotubes, Carbon