Spontaneous water cleanup using an epoxy-based polymer monolith

Abstract

Spontaneous cleanup processes based on capillary action for natural water containing humic acids were carried out using an epoxy-based polymer monolith. We were able to control the microstructures of monoliths by changing the polymerization conditions, including the curing agent/monomer/porogenic solvent ratio and the polymerization temperature. Furthermore, we confirmed that updrawing of water based on capillary action was highly dependent on the microstructures of the monolith, i.e., whether they are structures of particle aggregates, non-porous structures, or three-dimensional monolithic structures. The epoxy-based monoliths have a unique ability to adsorb hydrophobic and anionic compounds because the monoliths are prepared using epoxy monomers and curing agents with amines, and therefore, the monoliths can be used for the selective adsorption of polyphenols such as humic acids. In fact, we used a siphonic system to completely remove the humic acids in water samples and for the spontaneous cleanup of real pond water via spontaneous updrawing of water by “J”-shaped monoliths.