Facilitate the preparation of naturally modified and self-healing superhydrophobic/superoleophilic biochar-based foams for efficient oil-water separation

Abstract

Oil spills are sudden, complex, and long-term hazardous, and the existing adsorption materials still have the disadvantages of small selective adsorption capacity, easy secondary contamination, and difficult to repair after breakage in practical applications. Herein, melamine foam (MF) coated by ball milled biochar (BMBC) and natural beeswax (Wax@BMBC@MF) was prepared by a bio-inspired functionalization method and further added with self-healing function (SH-Wax@BMBC@MF) to cope with complex environments, and applied to oil-water separation for oil adsorption. SEM and FTIR results showed that BMBC and natural beeswax nanoparticles successfully encapsulated the smooth surface of the melamine foam skeleton. The loading of natural beeswax increased the foam's ability to absorb oil and organic solvents from 0.6108–1.134 g to 0.850–1.391 g, and the oil-absorbing capacity of the foam remained at 0. 758–1.263 g after being cut by a knife and self-healing. The oil-absorbing capacity of SH-Wax@BMBC@MF remained in the range of 0.936–1.336 g under acid/alkali environment (pH =1–13). The surface functional groups of BMBC improved the surface roughness of the material and strengthen the MF skeleton to adsorb oils and organic solvents by capillary action. The generation of the di-coordinated structure by Fe3+ and catechol group contributed the restoration of SH-Wax@BMBC@MF structure and oil absorption capacity. SH-Wax@BMBC@MF has superiority of superhydrophobic, superoleophilic, self-healing after damage, and environmental friendliness, which provides a promising solution for the treatment of oil spills at sea.