Durable, flexible, and super‐hydrophobic wood membrane with nanopore by molecular cross‐linking for efficient separation of stabilized water/oil emulsions
Yahui Cai,
Yang Yu,
Jianfei Wu,
Kaili Wang,
Youming Dong,
Jiafu Qu,
Jundie Hu,
Liwen Zhang,
Qiliang Fu,
Jianzhang Li,
Qichun Zhang,
Dan Tian
Affiliations
Yahui Cai
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing People's Republic of China
Yang Yu
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing People's Republic of China
Jianfei Wu
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing People's Republic of China
Kaili Wang
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing People's Republic of China
Youming Dong
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing People's Republic of China
Jiafu Qu
School of Materials Science and Engineering Suzhou University of Science and Technology Suzhou People's Republic of China
Jundie Hu
School of Materials Science and Engineering Suzhou University of Science and Technology Suzhou People's Republic of China
Liwen Zhang
Division of Nanomaterials and Jiangxi Key Lab of Carbonene Materials Jiangxi Institute of Nanotechnology Nanchang People's Republic of China
Qiliang Fu
Scion, 49 Sala Street Rotorua 3046 New Zealand
Jianzhang Li
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing People's Republic of China
Qichun Zhang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Center of Super‐Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
Dan Tian
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing People's Republic of China
Abstract Large amount of oily wastewater discharged from domestic sources and industrial has caused lots of pollution to our surrounding. Thus, searching effective and eco‐friendly ways for separation of stabilized oil/water emulsions is urgent and highly desirable. Among various methods, membrane with special wettability is an ideal choice for the efficient treatment of oil/water emulsions owing to its low energy consumption and cost. However, it remains a great challenge to develop super‐wettable membranes using green and inexpensive materials to realize durability, easy fabrication and scale‐up. To address this issue, a highly flexible, durable, robust, and super‐hydrophobic polydivinylbenzene (PDVB)‐wood membrane with hydrophobic‐nanopores is developed by the surface coating of cross‐linked PDVB on the porous wood. The as‐produced PDVB‐wood membrane shows excellent flexibility, durability, chemical resistance and possesses above 99.98% separation efficiency for surfactant‐stabilized water‐in‐oil emulsions. Furthermore, the PDVB‐wood membrane also performs excellent recyclability with separation efficiency up to 99.98% after 20 separation cycles. The synergistic effect of the super‐hydrophobicity and nanopores contributes to the high separation performance. With its excellent durability, easy scale up, easy fabrication, inexpensive, and green regeneration, we envision that this functional biomass‐derived membrane could be used as a substitute for filter membrane in environmental restoration.
