Enhanced properties of magnetic ultralight pear sponge assisted by Fenton-like reaction for oil-water separation

Abstract

BackgroundOil spills and leaks of organic pollutants have caused threats to the aquatic environment. Biomass sponges are potential absorbent materials to achieve oil–water separation due to their being low-cost and environmentally friendly. However, the ability to separate oil and water still mainly depends on preparing low-density sponges with high absorbability and motion controllability through mild and low-cost strategies. MethodsIn this study, an ultralow-density biomass sponge was prepared via a facile hydrothermal method through a Fenton-like reaction using pears as raw material. Notably, a Fenton-like reaction was introduced for the fabrication of a hydrothermal process for performance optimization. In addition, a small amount of polydimethylsiloxane and magnetic nanoparticles were used to modify the surface of the pear sponge through a one-step method. FindingsThe prepared biomass sponge exhibited a novel recyclability, hydrophobicity with water contact angle of 137°, stable magnetic properties and ultra-low density(0.03 g/cm3). The pear sponge also demonstrated excellent sorption capacity, achieving up to 10-20 times of its own weight for a wide range of organic solvents and oils. The prepared magnetic-driven sponges can be applied in emergencies for leakages of organic solvents, as well as leakages from tankers and offshore drilling platforms.