Facile preparation of superhydrophobic and superoleophilic sponge for fast removal of oils from water surface

The removal of oil spills or oily organic solvents from water surface is a great technological challenge for environmental protection. Here, a facile method to prepare superhydrophobic and superoleophilic sponge for fast and selective removal of oils from water surface has been reported. The as-prepared sponge exhibited superhydrophobic property with the water contact angle around 165 degrees, which can be used for the absorption of oil spills or oily organic solvents. Furthermore, the resultant sponge showed good durability toward temperature. This fabrication technique is easy to grasp and to be extended. So we believe that this new functionalized sponge could be realized for the large-scale commercialized production.