Superhydrophobic and Superlipophilic Low Density Polyethylene/Styrene–Butadiene Rubber Thermoplastic Vulcanizate Film for Pressure‐Responsive Continuous Oil–Water Separation

Abstract

AbstractIn recent years, with the continuous discharge of wastewater, which has caused serious environmental pollution, it is a task to separate oil or water from wastewater. Therefore, an efficient and low‐cost oil–water separation method is needed to separate the oil–water mixture. Here, a superhydrophobic/superoleophilic low density polyethylene/styrene‐butadiene rubber (LDPE/SBR) thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) film (oil contact angle of 0° and water contact angle of 161.1° ± 1.7°) is prepared using an etched aluminum foil as a template and applied to a laboratory‐assembled oil–water separation device, which is a new method for oil–water separation via a pressure response valve. The LDPE/SBR TPV film is rolled up and stuffed into the through‐valve, and the gap between the films is used as the pressure response channel for oil and water separation, thus achieving oil and water separation. When the film gap is 25 or 50 µm, the separation efficiency of TPV film is greater than 99% with the variation of external pumping force, indicating that this method can achieve complete oil–water separation under a suitable external pumping force. This functional TPV film has good recyclability, environmental stability, chemical stability, mechanical durability, as well as thermal stability, which makes it have great application potential.