Separation Efficiency Research Articles

Fluoride Ions Post-Treatment Regulates Interfacial Charge Separation and Transport to Promote Solar Water Splitting of Bismuth Vanadate.

Herein, we propose a simple and effective fluoride (F-) ions post-treatment method to improve the solar water splitting performance of BVO. The surface modification of BVO with functional F- ions not only facilitates the transfer and separation efficiency of carriers at the electrode/electrolyte interface but also promotes the adsorption and activation of water, resulting in a photocurrent of 3.2 mA/cm2 at a bias voltage of 1.2 VRHE. Furthermore, the transfer and separation of carriers in the bulk and on the surface are further regulated by the oxygen vacancies induced by F- ions, thereby enhancing the PEC water splitting performance of BVO. Notably, the experimental findings demonstrate that the inclusion of F- ions in the KBi electrolyte enhances the photo-charging process of BVO. Specifically, at a bias voltage of 0.6 VRHE, the BVO-0.12F sample exhibits a stable photocurrent of 1.2 mA/cm2, which is twice as high as that of the initial BVO sample. Remarkably, our study unveils that the addition of F- ions into the KBi electrolyte solution plays a pivotal role in facilitating the separation of charge carriers and promoting interfacial charge transport. Consequently, this further leads to a substantial enhancement in the solar water splitting performance for BVO-0.12F photoanode.

ANALYSIS OF THE BIFURCATING DUCT OF AN INLET PARTICLE SEPARATOR IN TRANSONIC FLOW CONDITIONS

Abstract To increase the reliability of turboprop and turboshaft engines in extreme operating conditions, filtering protections such as Inlet Particle Separators (IPS) can be installed at the intake. The flow inside an IPS is highly 3D and unsteady, with fluctuations especially pronounced when transonic conditions are reached. In this paper, we aim at providing the transonic analysis of an industrial IPS designed for aerodynamic lab testing. As a first step, we define the threshold beyond which sonic conditions are reached in the boundary cross sections of the IPS by means of a 1D semi-empirical model. Second, we select a critical configuration, and we perform CFD simulations to analyze the locations and evolution of the transonic flow inside the IPS. Different models are presented, i.e. steady and unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes, Detached Eddy Simulation and Large Eddy Simulation, characterized by three levels of resolution. The results show the evolution of some transonic shocks: the steady-state model is only providing information on averaged quantities, while the time-resolved simulations offer a more precise overview in the time domain. The analysis in the frequency domain reveals the frequencies of the transonic fluctuations. Finally, we discuss three alternative designs to effectively improve the operating range and mitigate the risks related to the transonic instabilities, comparing the differences in separation efficiency with respect to the baseline case. The results prove that the optimal design choice is given by the trade-off between operating range, pressure losses and separation efficiency.

Synergistic Construction of Superhydrophilic PVDF Membranes by Dual Modification Strategies for Efficient Emulsion Separation.

Solving the problem of oil and water pollution is an important topic in environmental protection. The separation of oil-water emulsion with high efficiency and low consumption has been the direction of social efforts. Membrane separation technology combined with surface wettability and pore size screening is considered to be one of the most promising ways to separate oil-water emulsions. In this paper, the polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane is prepared by combining the two methods of blending and coating modification as a double barrier. The prepared PVDF membrane can completely wet water, achieve superhydrophilic in air, and superoleophobic underwater. The separation efficiency and flux are 99.57% and 678 L h-1 m-2 bar-1, respectively, for toluene emulsions containing surfactants with an average particle size of 1.7µm. At the same time, it can also effectively separate different kinds of light/heavy oils. After three cycles of testing still maintain high efficiency of separation. The results show that the prepared PVDF membrane can effectively separate the emulsion containing surfactant with smaller particle size distribution of oil droplets. This method provides a new strategy for the separation of oil-water emulsions and has broad application prospects.

Efficient Charge Separation in Ag/PCN/UPDI Ternary Heterojunction for Optimized Photothermal-Photocatalytic Performance via Tandem Electric Fields.

Charge separation driven by the internal electric field is a research hotspot in photocatalysis. However, it remains challenging to accurately control the electric field to continuously accelerate the charge transfer. Herein, a strategy of constructing a tandem electric field to continuously accelerate charge transfer in photocatalysts is proposed. The plasma electric field, interface electric field, and intramolecular electric field are integrated into the Ag/g-C3N4/urea perylene imide (Ag/PCN/UPDI) ternary heterojunction to achieve faster charge separation and longer carrier lifetime. The triple electric fields function as three accelerators on the charge transport path, promoting the separation of electron-hole pairs, accelerating charge transfer, enhancing light absorption, and increasing the concentration of energetic electrons on the catalyst. The H2 evolution rate of Ag/PCN/UPDI is 16.8 times higher than that of pristine PDI, while the degradation rate of oxytetracycline is increased by 4.5 times. This new strategy will provide a groundbreaking idea for the development of high-efficiency photocatalysts.

Surface-Integrating Oxygen Vacancy and CuxO Nanodots Enabling Synergistic Electric Field and Dual Catalytic Sites Boosting CO2 Photoreduction.

High carrier separation efficiency and rapid surface catalytic reaction are crucial for enhancing catalytic CO2 photoreduction reaction. Herein, integrated surface decoration strategy with oxygen vacancies (Ov) and anchoring CuxO (1 < x < 2) nanodots below 10nm is realized on Bi2MoO6 for promoting CO2 photoreduction performance. The charge interaction between Ov and anchored CuxO enables the formation of enhanced internal electric field, which provides a strong driving force for accelerating the separation of photocharge carriers on the surface of Bi2MoO6 (ηsurf ≈71%). They can also cooperatively reduce the surface work function of Bi2MoO6, facilitating the migration of carrier to the surface. Meanwhile, surface-integrated Ov and CuxO nanodots allowing dual catalytic sites strengthens the adsorption and activation CO2 into *CO2 over Bi2MoO6, considerably boosting the progression of CO2 conversion process. In the absence of co-catalyst or sacrificial agent, Bi2MoO6 with Ov and CuxO nanodots achieves a photocatalytic CO generation rate of 12.75µmol g-1 h-1, a remarkable increase of over ≈15 times that of the original counterpart. This work provides a new idea for governing charge movement behaviors and catalytic reaction thermodynamics on the basis of synergistic improvement of electric field and active sites by coupling of the internal defects and external species.

Superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic hydrogel-loaded fabrics for enhanced oil/water separation

Separating oil/water mixtures in highly acidic, alkaline, and saline environments poses a significant challenge. This study presents a method for preparing stable hydrogel-loaded nonwoven fabrics capable of separating oil/water mixtures in such harsh conditions. The double network (DN) hydrogel-loaded nonwoven fabrics were fabricated by combining the in-situ copolymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) with acrylamide (AM) and the physical freeze-thaw treatment of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This DN hydrogel exhibits an extremely low swelling degree (equilibrium swelling ratio = 0.37 g/g) and imparts excellent hydrophilic and underwater oleophobic performance (underwater oil contact angle >150°) to the loaded nonwoven fabrics. Additionally, owing to the unique structure formed by the hydrogel on the fabric surface, it demonstrates outstanding resistance to acids, alkalis, and salts. The material enables efficient oil/water separation in H2SO4, NaOH, and seawater solutions. The hydrogel-loaded nonwoven fabrics achieved a high oil/water separation efficiency of over 99 %, a water flux of more than 40,000 L/(m2·h), and maintained high stability even after 100 cycles of operation.

Regulation of Charge Transfer Pathway in Ag-ZnIn2S4 Nanowires for Visible Photodynamic Therapy on Candida Albicans Infections.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is receiving extensive attention as an antimicrobial strategy that does not cause drug resistance by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, hierarchical Ag-ZnIn2S4 (Ag-ZIS) core-shell nanowires are synthesized by in situ Metal-Organic Framework derived method for efficient PDT of Candida albicans (C. albicans). The core-shell structure enables spatial synergy strategy to regulate the charge transfer pathway under visible light excitation, in which the Ag nanowires are like the highway for the photogenerated electrons. The enhanced charge carrier separation efficiency greatly increased the chances for the generation of ROS. As expected, the optimized Ag-ZIS nanowires exhibit excellent performance for inactivation of C. albicans under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm, 15 min), and the effective sterilization concentration is as high as 107CFU mL-1. Moreover, in vivo infection experiments suggested that the PDT effect of Ag-ZIS nanowires on the mouse wound healing is better than that of the clinical Ketoconazole drug. The PDT antifungal mechanism of Ag-ZIS nanowires is also investigated, and superoxide anion is found to be the predominant active species to causes C. albicans damage. This work provides a new perspective for designing novel interface structures to regulate charge transfer to achieve efficient PDT antifungal therapy.

Surface plasmon resonance-mediated photocatalytic H2 generation.

The limited yield of H2 production has posed a significant challenge in contemporary research. To address this issue, researchers have turned to the application of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) materials in photocatalytic H2 generation SPR, arising from collective electron oscillations, enhances light absorption and facilitates efficient separation and transfer of electron-hole pairs in semiconductor systems, thereby boosting photocatalytic H2 production efficiency. However, existing reviews predominantly focus on SPR noble metals, neglecting non-noble metals and SPR semiconductors. In this review, we begin by elucidating five different SPR mechanisms, covering hot electron injection, electric field enhancement, light scattering, plasmon-induced resonant energy transfer, and photo-thermionic effect, by which SPR enhances photocatalytic activity. Subsequently, a comprehensive overview follows, detailing the application of SPR materials-metals, non-noble metals, and SPR semiconductors-in photocatalytic H2 production. Additionally, a personal perspective is offered on developing highly efficient SPR-based photocatalysis systems for solar-to-H2 conversion in the future. This review aims to guide the development of next-gen SPR-based materials for advancing solar-to-fuel conversion.

Application of Response Surface Methodology on the Optimization of Chromite Recovery from the South African Middle Group Chromite Seams

AbstractThe aim of this study was to optimize the recovery of chromite from the chrome plant tailings of the South African Middle Group chromite seams using a Wilfley shaking table. The optimization process employed the response surface methodology in conjunction with the central composite design. The independent variables considered in the investigation included the tilt angle (°), sample feed rate (g/min), table vibration (Hz), water flow rate (L/H), and particle size range (µm). On the other hand, the recovery (%), grade (% Cr2O3), Cr/Fe ratio, and separation efficiency (SE) (%) were determined as the response variables. Based on the characterization results, the sample was identified as a low-grade chromite containing 19.86% Cr2O3 and 18.12% Fe2O3 with a Cr/Fe ratio of 1.07. The bulk gangue material was well-liberated and rich in MgO (10.45%), Al2O3 (12.10%), and SiO2 (33.70%). The particle size distribution of the sample was 80% passing 106 µm. The optimal values for recovery, grade, Cr/Fe ratio and SE were found to be 71.59%, 36.97% Cr2O3, 1.52 and 30% respectively. The corresponding operating conditions were a tilt angle of 5.88°, a sample feed rate of 175 g/min, a table vibration of 44.5 Hz, a water flow rate of 366.16 L/H, and a particle size range of − 106 + 53 µm. Graphical Abstract

Integration of TiO2/ZnIn2S4 p‐n Heterojunction with Titanium Defects to Boost PEC Oxygen Production

TiO2 is a widely used photoelectric conversion semiconductor material. However, due to its selective absorption of ultraviolet light and high recombination rate of photogenerated carriers, it exhibits poor photoelectrochemical water splitting performance. In this study, intrinsic defect titanium vacancy and semiconductor recombination agents ZnIn2S4 were introduced into an anodization‐annealed TiO2 film (TiO2 NT) to enhance the photoanode activity. The activity‐enhanced TiO2 photoanode (ZIS@TiO2 NT‐EA) was characterized by surface analyses and photoelectrochemical measurements. The results indicated that the introduction of titanium vacancies into the TiO2 NT‐EA changed its semiconductor type from n to p. After the ZnIn2S4 nanoparticles were loaded on the TiO2 NT‐EA film, the carrier concentration of the ZIS@TiO2 NT‐EA increased nearly 12 times than the pristine TiO2 NT. Due to the higher carrier separation efficiency resulting from the formation of p‐n heterojunction, the photocurrent density of the ZIS@TiO2 NT‐EA reached 3.89 mA cm‐2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, nearly 3 times higher than that of the original TiO2 NT. The maximum applied bias photon‐to‐current efficiency (ABPE) value of the ZIS@TiO2 NT EA reached 2.15% at 0.496 V vs. RHE, which is very competitive if compared with all the reported TiO2 film electrodes in the PEC water splitting application.

Endothermic Charge Separation Occurs Spontaneously in Non-Fullerene Acceptor/Polymer Bulk Heterojunction.

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) based on non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) have achieved a power conversion efficiency close to 20%. These NFA OPVs can generate free carriers efficiently despite a very small energy level offset at the donor/acceptor (D/A) interface. Why these NFAs can enable efficient charge separation (CS) with low energy losses remains an open question. Here, the CS process in the PM6:Y6 bulk heterojunction (BHJ) is probed by time-resolved two-photon photoemission (TR-TPPE) spectroscopy. We found that the CS, the conversion from bound charge transfer (CT) excitons to free carriers, is an endothermic process with an enthalpy barrier of 0.15eV. The CS can occur spontaneously despite being an endothermic process, which implies that it is driven by entropy. We further argue that the morphology of the PM6:Y6 film and the anisotropic electron delocalization restrict the electron and hole wavefunctions within the CT exciton such that they can primarily contact each other through point-like junctions. This configuration can maximize the entropic driving force. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Transport and separation behaviors of crosslinked GO/PVA sponge with high porosity

Separation materials (technology) with high efficiency and high precision is a goal that researchers are relentlessly pursuing. Here, crosslinked graphene oxide and polyvinyl alcohol (GO/PVA) sponges with high porosity are reported, which were constructed by crosslinking a dilute solution of GO/PVA. The structure and transport characteristics of the sponges were investigated. It was found that it took 150 days for 30 mg/L methylene blue (MB) to diffuse from the side of crosslinked GO/PVA sponge (10 mm thickness) to the other side (breakthrough) even though the porosity of sponge was up to 92.9 %, while it needed only 2 days in PVA sponge and 13 days for methyl orange (MO) in the sponge. Hence, the transport and separation behaviors of more substances were explored and it is found that not only a precise separation of more than 99 % was achieved for MB/MO (similar molecular weight) mixed solution due to the extremely wide difference of transport rate, but also a water permeability of (4.3 × 105 L·m−2·h−1·Mpa-1) was reached under 10 cm height of water column pressure (0.01 bar), which is three orders of magnitude higher than that of nanofiltration membrane. The extremely high selectivity and efficiency to MB are attributed to the structural features of the sponge, i.e., the fully dispersed GO nanosheets and their crosslinking structure with PVA. Thus, the adsorption amount, adsorption rate, and adsorption strength to MB were greatly improved due to a synergistic effect of GO and PVA, and the highly efficient, precise, and rapid separation of MB was realized. In addition, the structural characteristics of the sponges favor the slow transport of many substances, which will extend their applications to the controlled release field.

A robust polypyrrole nanofibrous membrane for versatile applications: Oil-water separation and dye removal

Integrated approaches to oil-water separation and water remediation have significant implications for industrial applications and environmental sustainability. In this study, we focused on developing a versatile polypyrrole nanofibrous membrane (PPy NFM) based on electrospun nanofibrous membrane for the simultaneous and efficient separation of oil-in-water emulsions and removal of dyes from wastewater. PPy NFM with hydrophilicity and underwater oleophobicity exhibited good emulsion separation efficiency (96.7 %) after 20 cycles of gravity-driven filtration. It is also highly resistant to harsh environments, including strong acids, bases, and high-concentration salts. Additionally, PPy NFM demonstrates remarkable removal efficiency for anionic dyes (91.9 % ∼ 99.3 % at natural pH) and cationic dyes (41.3 % ∼ 58.0 % at pH=10) with a strong affinity towards anionic dyes, through multiple interactions, including electrostatic forces, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonding, as supported by experimental evidence and computational simulations. These results highlight the tremendous application potential of PPy NFM in simultaneous oil-water separation and dye removal.

Full-Space Electric Field in Mo-Decorated Zn2In2S5 Polarization Photocatalyst for Oriented Charge Flow and Efficient Hydrogen Production.

Integration of photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution with oxidative organic synthesis presents a highly attractive strategy for the simultaneous production of clean H2 fuel and high-value chemicals. However, the sluggish dynamics of photogenerated charge carriers across the photocatalysts result in low photoconversion efficiency, hindering the wide applications of such a technology. Herein, we overcome this limitation by inducing the full-space electric field via charge polarization engineering on a Mo cluster-decorated Zn2In2S5 (Mo-Zn2In2S5) photocatalyst. Specifically, this full-space electric field arises from a cascade of the bulk electric field (BEF) and local surface electric field (LSEF), triggering the oriented migration of photogenerated electrons from [Zn-S] regions to [In-S] regions and eventually to Mo cluster sites, ensuring efficient separation of bulk and surface charge carriers. Moreover, the surface Mo clusters induce a tip enhancement effect to optimize charge transfer behavior by augmenting electrons and proton concentration around the active sites on the basal plane of Zn2In2S5. Notably, the optimized Mo1.5-Zn2In2S5 catalyst achieves exceptional H2 and benzaldehyde production rates of 34.35 and 45.31mmol gcat -1 h-1, respectively, outperforming pristine ZnIn2S4 by 3.83- and 4.15-fold. Our findings mark a significant stride in steering charge flow for enhanced photocatalytic performance. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Improved Synthesis of Hollow Fiber SSZ-13 Zeolite Membranes for High-Pressure CO2/CH4 Separation.

High-silica CHA zeolite membranes are highly desired for natural gas upgrading because of their separation performance in combination with superior mechanical and chemical stability. However, the narrow synthesis conditions range significantly constrains scale-up preparation. Herein, we proposed a facile interzeolite conversion approach using FAU zeolite to prepare SSZ-13 zeolite seeds, featuring a shorter induction and a longer crystallization period of the membrane synthesis. The membrane thickness was constant at ~3 μm over a wide span of synthesis time (24 ~ 96 h), while the selectivity (separation efficiency) was easily improved by extending synthesis time without compromising permeance (throughput). At 0.2MPa feed pressure and 303 K, the membranes showed an average CO2 permeance of (5.2 ± 0.5) × 10-7 mol·m-2·s-1·Pa-1 (1530GPU), with an average CO2/CH4 mixture selectivity of 143 ± 7. Minimal defects ensure a high selectivity of 126 with a CO2 permeation flux of 0.4 mol·m-2·s-1 at 6.1MPa feed pressure, far surpassing requirements for industrial applications. The feasibility for successful scale-up of our approach was further demonstrated by the batch synthesis of 40 cm-long hollow fiber SSZ-13 zeolite membranes exhibiting CO2/CH4 mixture selectivity up to 400 (0.2 MPa feed pressure and 303 K) without using sweep gas.

Improved Synthesis of Hollow Fiber SSZ‐13 Zeolite Membranes for High‐Pressure CO2/CH4 Separation

High‐silica CHA zeolite membranes are highly desired for natural gas upgrading because of their separation performance in combination with superior mechanical and chemical stability. However, the narrow synthesis conditions range significantly constrains scale‐up preparation. Herein, we proposed a facile interzeolite conversion approach using FAU zeolite to prepare SSZ‐13 zeolite seeds, featuring a shorter induction and a longer crystallization period of the membrane synthesis. The membrane thickness was constant at ~3 μm over a wide span of synthesis time (24 ~ 96 h), while the selectivity (separation efficiency) was easily improved by extending synthesis time without compromising permeance (throughput). At 0.2 MPa feed pressure and 303 K, the membranes showed an average CO2 permeance of (5.2 ± 0.5) × 10‐7 mol·m‐2·s‐1·Pa‐1 (1530 GPU), with an average CO2/CH4 mixture selectivity of 143 ± 7. Minimal defects ensure a high selectivity of 126 with a CO2 permeation flux of 0.4 mol·m‐2·s‐1 at 6.1 MPa feed pressure, far surpassing requirements for industrial applications. The feasibility for successful scale‐up of our approach was further demonstrated by the batch synthesis of 40 cm‐long hollow fiber SSZ‐13 zeolite membranes exhibiting CO2/CH4 mixture selectivity up to 400 (0.2 MPa feed pressure and 303 K) without using sweep gas.

In-Sb Covalent Bonds over Sb2Se3/In2Se3 Heterojunction for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

Antimony selenide is a promising P-type photocatalyst, but it has a large number of deep energy level defects, leading to severe carrier recombination. The construction of a heterojunction is a common way to resolve this problem. However, the conventional heterojunction system inevitably introduces interface defects. Herein, we employ in situ synthesis to epitaxially grow In2Se3 nanosheets on Sb2Se3 nanorods and form In-Sb covalent interfacial bonds. This petal-shaped heterostructure reduced interface defects and enhanced the efficiency of carrier separation and transport. In this work, the photocurrent density in the proposed Sb2Se3/In2Se3 photocathode is 0.485 mA cm-2 at 0 VRHE, which is 30 times higher than that of pristine Sb2Se3 and it has prominent long-term stability for 24 h without obvious decay. The results reveal that the synergy of the bidirectional built-in electric field constructed between In2Se3 and Sb2Se3 and the solid In-Sb interfacial bonds together build a high-efficiency transport channel for the photogenerated carriers that display enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting performance. This work provides efficient guidance for reducing interface defects via the in situ synthesis and construction of interfacial bonds.

Robust Homochiral Polycrystalline Metal-Organic Framework Membranes for High-Performance Enantioselective Separation.

Homochiral MOF membranes offer a promising route to efficient chiral separation, but their fabrication remains challenging. Here, we report for the first time the design and preparation of homochiral polycrystalline MOF-808 membranes for the first time. The membrane exhibits a high integrity and thin membrane thickness. Achieving homochirality through chiral amino acid postsynthetic modification, MOF-808 membranes demonstrate remarkable solvent stability. Notably, they successfully separated racemic naproxen enantiomers, achieving enantiomeric excess (ee) values of up to ∼95.0%. This work paves the way for turning achiral polycrystalline MOF membranes into high-performance chiral membranes for enantioselective separation.

Investigating BiMeVOx compounds as potential photoelectrochemical and electrochemical materials for renewable hydrogen production

In this study, BiMeVOx compounds (where Me: Co, Mo, Ce, Zr) were synthesized and characterized as potential photoelectrochemical materials for solar water splitting, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The analysis confirmed the successful formation of phase BiMeVOx compounds with the desired crystal structure. Among the tested materials, BiCoVOx(800) showed the highest photocurrent density (674 μA cm−2) and HER/OER activity (Tafel slope: HER = 100 mV dec−1 and OER = 75 mV dec−1), followed by BiMoVOx(800), BiCeVOx(800), and BiZrVOx(800). The superior photoelectrochemical performance of BiCoVOx(800) can be attributed to its unique electronic structure and optimized band alignment, which promote efficient charge separation and facilitate the water splitting and hydrogen evolution processes. The findings of this study highlight the promising potential of the synthesized BiMeVOx materials, particularly BiCoVOx, as efficient photoelectrochemical catalysts for water splitting. These results contribute to the advancement of renewable energy technologies and provide valuable insights for the design and development of novel photoactive materials.

Efficient oil/water separation using a superhydrophobic polyurethane sponge fabricated by a facile dip-coating method

ABSTRACT Due to the numerous incidents of oil spills and the increase in the production of industrial effluents containing oil, the separation of oil and water has become an important global issue. This research used a simple dip-coating method to fabricate a superhydrophobic polyurethane sponge using SiO2 nanoparticles and vinyl trimethoxy silane. XRD, FESEM, EDX, elemental mapping, FT-IR, DLS, and measurement of mechanical resistance, and water contact angle were used to characterise the desired sponge. The modified polyurethane sponge exhibited a water contact angle of 151.32 ± 1.06°. The sorption capacity of the desired sponge measured for various types of oily pollutants and organic solvents were in the range of 30.50 ± 2.04to 66.80 ± 1.64 g.g−1. The separation efficiency of the polyurethane sponge was in the range of 97.14 ± 0.40 to 99.15 ± 0.30. Furthermore, the ability of the desired sponge to separate the oil in the real effluent of the casting unit of a steel production company was investigated. Also, the reusability and the ability of removing emulsified oil droplets of the modified polyurethane sponge were studied. As a result, the as prepared polyurethane sponge can be considered a sorbent with the potential to separate oily pollutants from water and treat oily industrial wastewater.