A hierarchical structured steel mesh decorated with metal organic framework/graphene oxide for high-efficient oil/water separation

A hierarchical structured steel mesh decorated with metal organic framework (UiO-66-NH2) nanoparticles/graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets was successfully prepared via a simple self-assemble method. Because water molecules tend to build hydrogen bonds with the amine, carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups of UiO-66-NH2/GO hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure can easily capture water and tightly lock the water to build a stable water layer on the steel mesh surface and block oil in contact with the steel mesh. Therefore, the obtained hierarchical structured steel mesh exhibits super-hydrophilicity, underwater super-oleophobicity, excellent oil resistance and outstanding oil/water separation performance with a superior high permeating flux (54,500 L m(-2) h(-1)) and rejection (> 99.9%) under gravity force, indicating the mesh possesses great potential for treating oily wastewater.