Removal of dyes, oils, alcohols, heavy metals and microplastics from water with superhydrophobic materials

A wide variety of pollutants can be currently found in water that are extremely difficult to remove due to their chemical composition and properties. A lot of effort has been made to tackle this issue that directly affects the environment. In this scenario, superhydrophobic surfaces, which have a water contact angle >150???, have emerged as an innovative technology that could be applied in different ways. Their environmental applications show promise in removing emerging pollutants from water. While the number of publications on super-hydrophobic materials has remained largely unchanged since 2019, the number of articles on the environmental applications of superhydrophobic surfaces is still rising, corroborating the interest in this area. Herein, we briefly present the basis of superhydrophobicity and show the different materials that have been used to remove pol-lutants from water. We have identified five types of emerging pollutants that are efficiently removed by superhydrophobic materials: oils, microplastics, dyes, heavy metals, and ethanol. Finally, the future challenges of these applications are also discussed, considering the state of the art of the environmental applications of superhydrophobic materials.

Automated summary

A wide variety of pollutants in water are difficult to remove due to their chemical composition and properties. Superhydrophobic surfaces have emerged as an innovative technology for environmental applications, showing promise in removing emerging pollutants. The number of articles on superhydrophobic surfaces for environmental applications is increasing, indicating the interest in this area. Superhydrophobic materials have been found to efficiently remove oils, microplastics, dyes, heavy metals, and ethanol. Future challenges of these applications are also discussed in the article.