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Efficient and Fast Removal of Oils from Water Surfaces via Highly Oleophilic Polyurethane Composites
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Researchers developed polyurethane foam composites coated with silica or activated carbon that can absorb up to 50% more oil from water than plain foam. Improved oil-spill cleanup materials also have relevance to removing other hydrophobic pollutants, including those that bind to microplastics in water.
In this study we evaluated the oil adsorption capacity of an aliphatic polyurethane foam (PU 1) and two of its composites, produced through surface coating using microparticles of silica (PU-Si 2) and activated carbon (PU-ac 3). The oil adsorption capacity in diesel was improved up to 36% using the composite with silica and up to 50% using the composite with activated carbon with respect to the initial PU 1. Excellent performances were retained in gasoline and motor oil. The adsorption was complete after a few seconds. The process follows a monolayer adsorption fitted by the Langmuir isotherm, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 29.50 g/g of diesel for the composite with activated carbon (PU-ac 3). These materials were proved to be highly oleophilic for oil removal from fresh water and sea water samples. Regeneration and reuse can be repeated up to 50 times by centrifugation, without a significant loss in adsorption capacity.
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Solar-driven superhydrophobic modified polyurethane sponge for rapid in-situ recovery of oil and microplastics in marine oil spill co-contamination
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Researchers developed an ultralight superhydrophobic polyurethane sponge modified with polydopamine, MoS₂, and a silane compound that can adsorb 36–85 times its weight in oil and simultaneously capture microplastics from marine environments, with solar-driven photothermal heating accelerating oil recovery.
Constructing a Nonfluorinated, Durable, and PhotothermalSuperhydrophobic Polyurethane Sponge by Utilizing a Dual-Layer Designof Acetylene Black and Lignin Microparticles for Multifunctional Applications
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Scientists created a sponge that repels water but soaks up oil, using safer, fluorine-free materials instead of the "forever chemicals" often used in similar products. Beyond cleaning up oil spills, this sponge can also absorb five common types of microplastics from water, offering a promising tool for tackling both oil pollution and plastic contamination without relying on chemicals linked to health concerns.
Removing free-floating oil from water using cationic polymers/surfactant-modified silica
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Researchers modified silica particles with four different cationic polymers and surfactants to improve their ability to adsorb and remove free-floating oil from water. High-molecular-weight polyethyleneimine-modified silica showed the best oil sorption performance, suggesting a viable approach for treating oily wastewater.
Mechanically durable anti-bacteria non-fluorinated superhydrophobic sponge for highly efficient and fast microplastic and oil removal
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A superhydrophobic sponge was engineered to selectively remove microplastics and oil from water, achieving high removal efficiency while also demonstrating antibacterial properties. The material maintained its performance across repeated use cycles, offering a promising approach for practical water treatment applications.
Constructing a Nonfluorinated, Durable, and PhotothermalSuperhydrophobic Polyurethane Sponge by Utilizing a Dual-Layer Designof Acetylene Black and Lignin Microparticles for Multifunctional Applications
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Scientists created a sponge-like material that can soak up oil spills, clean up water pollution, and even capture tiny plastic particles (microplastics) from water—all without using the harmful "forever chemicals" (fluorine compounds) typically found in water-repellent products. This matters because microplastics are increasingly found in our water supplies and bodies, and this sponge offers a safer, more durable way to filter them out while also tackling oil pollution, using sunlight to boost its cleaning power.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.