Facile and Efficient Phase-Selective Powder Polymer Organogelator for Oil Spill Remediation

Phase-selective organogelators that gel oils from oil/water mixtures are useful to remediate oil spills on water. We designed and synthesized polymer organogelators, poly(styrene-co-10-undecenoic acid) with five different 10-undecenoic acid contents that could be added as powders at room temperature to gel oils with different viscosities. The morphologies and mechanical strengths of the gels were investigated using field-emission electron microscopy and rheological measurements, respectively. The gels formed porous fibrillar structures and had high stiffness. Fourier transformm infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies of these gels showed that hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces helped create three-dimensional networks. The straightforward synthesis procedure, room-temperature conditions, and easy powder delivery make poly(styrene-co-10-undecenoic acid) an attractive alternative to existing oil spill response methods.

Automated summary

In this study, we designed and synthesized a thermoresponsive organogelator for oil gelling from oil/water mixtures, which plays a significant role in oil spill remediation. The gelators formed porous fibrillar structures with high stiffness, and the three-dimensional networks were created by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. Poly(styrene-co-10-undecenoic acid) has the advantages of a straightforward synthesis procedure, room-temperature conditions, and easy powder delivery, making it an attractive alternative to existing oil spill response methods.