Superhydrophilic fish-scale-like CuC2O4 nanosheets wrapped copper mesh with underwater super oil-repellent properties for effective separation of oil-in-water emulsions

Huaqiang He, Tian C. Zhang, Zhikai Li, Ying Liang, Shaojun Yuan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

The development of efficient, facile and stable approach to separate water from oilfield emulsified oily wastewater is highly desired. In our work, inspired by oil-repellent property of fish scales with a thin layer of mucus and hierarchical structures, pioneering fish-scale-like CuC2O4 nanosheets wrapped (i.e., CuC2O4 NSW) on copper mesh surfaces were fabricated by a facile in-situ chemical etching. The unique vertically grown crisscross CuC2O4 nanosheet layer delivered a strong water capture ability to form a firm water film for achieving rapid and super oil repellence functionality. The 300-mesh CuC2O4 NSW copper mesh exhibited superior underwater superoleophobicity and was proven to treat emulsified oily wastewater effectively (with a water permeation flux being circa 2200 L·m−2·h−1 and COD value in filtrate at circa 54 mg·L−1). Furthermore, the 500-mesh CuC2O4 NSW copper mesh was demonstrated to effectively separate surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions (with a water permeation flux of 1000–2000 L·m−2·h−1 and COD value in filtrate < 55 mg·L−1). The good chemical, mechanical and thermal stability of the as-prepared mesh was further ascertained by different stability tests. With the efficient separation capability, good underwater super oil-repellent and self-cleaning abilities, the novel membrane prepared by the easily scaled-up method shows great potential for industrial applications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number127133
JournalColloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
Volume627
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 20 2021

Keywords

  • Anti-oil pollution
  • Copper mesh
  • CuCO nanosheets
  • Surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions
  • Underwater superoleophobicity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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