Simple and eco-friendly fabrication of superhydrophobic textile for oil/water separation

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic material was successfully prepared by the coating of Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) onto the surface of cotton textile and subsequent hydrophobic modification. The formation of PVA with rough structure and hydrophobicity was confirmed with scanning electron microscopy and investigation of the wetting behavior of water on the textile. The coated textile is water repellant and can be used as a material for separating various oil/water mixture with a high separation efficiency up to 91%. Due to its simple fabrication process, low cost, excellent recyclability and durability, and high separation efficiency, the as-prepared textile can be considered as promising material for practical oil/water separation.