Superhydrophobic Thermoplastic Polyurethane Foam Fabricated by Phase Separation and Silica Coating for Oil-Water Separation

Oil spills and the presence of oily wastewater have resulted in substantial ecological damage. Superhydrophobic polymer foam with selectivity and adsorption capacity is a promising candidate for efficient oil-water separation. In this study, a method that combines phase separation and silica coating to produce superhydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foam is proposed. The TPU foam demonstrates superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 155.62 & DEG;, and exhibits a maximum saturated adsorption capacity of 54.11 g g(-1). Furthermore, the foam can be utilized as a filter for oil-water separation, maintaining its filtration efficiency (41.2 m(3) m(2) h(-1)) even after ten filtration cycles.

Automated summary

Oil spills and oily wastewater have caused significant ecological damage, while superhydrophobic polymer foam has the potential for efficient oil-water separation. This study proposes a method that combines phase separation and silica coating to produce superhydrophobic TPU foam. The TPU foam exhibits superhydrophobicity and a high saturated adsorption capacity, making it an effective filter for oil-water separation even after multiple filtration cycles.