Superwetting Bi2MoO6/Cu3(PO4)2 Nanosheet-Coated Copper Mesh with Superior Anti-Oil-Fouling and Photo-Fenton-like Catalytic Properties for Effective Oil-in-Water Emulsion Separation

Superwetting materials with excellent anti-oil-fouling performance for the treatment of oily wastewater are urgently demanded in practice. In this work, aiming at effectively separating diverse oil-in-water emulsions, a multifunctional Bi2MoO6/Cu-3(PO4)(2) nanosheet-coated copper mesh was successfully fabricated by the combination of chemical oxidation and ultrasonic irradiation deposition methods. The resultant copper mesh exhibited superior superhydrophilicity/underwater superoleophobicity and, more importantly, preferable anti-oil-fouling property benefitting from the stable and firm hydration layer. A series of oil/water separation experiments for the highly emulsified surfactant-free and surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions were conducted, with the respective permeation fluxes of up to 3000 and 700 L.m(-2).h(-1) and the corresponding separation efficiencies of 99.5 and 98.6% solely driven by gravity. Meanwhile, considering the photo-Fenton-like catalytic activity of Bi2MoO6, the as-fabricated copper mesh exhibited excellent degradation ability toward organic pollutants under visible light irradiation. More importantly, stability tests were performed to evaluate the ability to cope with the harsh environments for practical applications. With the outstanding performances of high separation efficiency, desirable photo-Fenton-like catalytic capacity, and strong stability, the Bi2MoO6/Cu-3(PO4)(2) nanosheet-coated copper mesh holds promising potential for purifying emulsified wastewater.

Automated summary

A multifunctional Bi2MoO6/Cu-3(PO4)(2) nanosheet-coated copper mesh was successfully fabricated for effectively separating diverse oil-in-water emulsions. The copper mesh exhibited superior superhydrophilicity/underwater superoleophobicity, high separation efficiency, strong stability, and excellent degradation ability toward organic pollutants. With promising potential for purifying emulsified wastewater, the material holds great significance for practical applications.