Design, fabrication, and characterization of a facile superhydrophobic and superoleophilic mesh-based membrane for selective oil-water separation

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic (SHSO) membranes have found great attention in oil–water separation application. We fabricate a SHSO stainless steel mesh-based membrane, using facile one-stage dip-coating technique, investigate the effects of silane alkyl chain size, ratio micro-to-nanoparticles coating solid fraction. Silane compounds with short- long-alkyl functional chains (Dynasylan® Sivo 408 Dynasylan® F8261, respectively) are used as surface energy modifiers. To create hierarchical morphology, Aerosil® R812 SIPERNAT® D13 employed nano microparticles, respectively. The long-silane features higher water contact angle (WCA) at all compositions. Increasing nano-to-microparticles increases WCA long-chain silane. Maximum WCAs = 165.8° 164.2° attained long short silanes, respectively, when is composed 75 wt% nanoparticles 25 microparticles. concentration to 100% decreases hydrophobicity, which more pronounced for short-chain 163.8° 155.5° solutions containing modify roughness. Flower-like roughness structures observed solution silanes only nanoparticles. average pore opening mesh from 76 µm bare 48 coated mesh. Analytical characterization results (e.g., sliding angle, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)) confirm as-prepared Except exposure 1.0 M NaOH solution, stable (WCA > 145°) H2SO4, NaOH, NaCl concentrated over four weeks. Using fabricated mesh, macroscopic efficiency kerosene >99%. membrane fabrication strategy proposed this study further highlights importance wetting condition effective treatment oily wastewater streams variety food, chemical, industries.