Highly porous polymeric sponges for oil sorption

Abstract

Highly porous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) sponges with highly hydrophobic internal surface, 95 vol% porosity and controllable pore sizes were obtained by polymerization in a continuous phase of highly concentrated emulsions. Critical pore sizes for oils with different viscosity were determined; the initial rate of oil sorption exceeded the initial rate of water sorption in pores smaller than the critical size. As a result, more efficient and more effective cleaning up of oil spills can be achieved.