Non-Wettable Microporous Sheets Using Mixed Polyolefin Waste for Oil-Water Separation

Mixed polyolefin-based waste needs urgent attention to mitigate its negative impact on the environment. The separation of these plastics requires energy-intensive processes due to their similar densities. Additionally, these materials cannot be blended without compatibilizers, as they are inherently incompatible and immiscible. Herein, non-wettable microporous sheets from recycled polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are presented. The methodology involves the application of phase separation and spin-casting techniques to obtain a bimodal porous structure, facilitating efficient oil-water separation. The resulting sheets have an immediate and equilibrium sorption uptake of 100 and 55 g/g, respectively, due to the presence of micro- and macro-pores, as revealed by SEM. Moreover, sheets possess enhanced crystallinity, as evidenced by XRD; hence, they retain their structure during sorption and desorption and are reusable with 98% efficiency. The anti-wetting properties of the sheets are enhanced by applying a silane coating, ensuring waterless sorption and a contact angle of 140 & DEG;. These results highlight the importance of implementing sustainable solutions to recycle plastics and mitigate the oil spill problem.

Automated summary

Mixed polyolefin-based waste requires immediate attention to mitigate its negative impact on the environment. The separation of these plastics is energy-intensive due to their similar densities, and they cannot be blended without compatibilizers due to their inherent incompatibility. This study presents non-wettable microporous sheets made from recycled polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), which demonstrate efficient oil-water separation and high reusability. These findings emphasize the importance of sustainable solutions for plastic recycling and mitigating oil spill problems.