Abstract
This study developed a functional Janus wood (JW) membrane with designed wettability gradient through simple modification of balsa wood and evaluated its performance in liquid transport, fog collection, and oil–water separation. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were uniformly loaded into the wood membrane via vacuum impregnation and hydrothermal crystal growth, creating a stable hydrophobic layer. The single-side UV irradiation further induced the hydrophilic-hydrophobic gradually transitional structure. Uniform ZnO nanoparticle distribution was confirmed by SEM, XRD, XPS analyses, and so on. Increased surface area and targeted wettability differences were also detailly verified. UV treatment transformed ZnO to Zn(OH)2 altering the wettability transformation. The JW membrane demonstrated stable wettability under various pH, salinity, and abrasion conditions, with over 98.7% fog collection efficiency and reduced water evaporation. It also achieved over 99.6% separation efficiency for light and heavy oils with high flux and reusability. Due to its simple preparation process, cost effective, and excellent performance with durability, the JW membrane shows strong potential for applications in commercial environment. The study provided scenarios and solutions for multi-functional applications of sustainable wood and offered a new consideration for the design and preparation of Janus membranes.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call