Sustainable approach to oil recovery from oil spills through superhydrophobic jute fabric

Ecosystems suffer from increased oil exploitation and frequent oil spills, which calls for effective, environment-friendly, and economically viable solutions. To address this, abandoned gunny sacks as the concerned jute fabric were superhydrophobically (water contact angle similar to 159 degrees) modified, incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS), rendering a facile drop casting procedure. The modified superhydrophobic-superoleophilic jute fabric has been identified as a high-performance filter with superior reusability that can separate oil-water mixtures in challenging environmental conditions (including potent acidic, alkaline, highly saline, aqueous, frigid, and blistering water environments) while maintaining high separation efficiency. In continuation, static conditions indulging a batch and continuous oil separation performance and dynamic conditions stimulating turbulence in the oil-water mixture were proficiently carried out, mimicking real-world circumstances. As a result, the modified jute fabric has the advantages of high separation efficiency, stable recyclable properties, and outstanding durability, highlighting its enormous potential for use in practical applications.

Automated summary

The study explores the use of modified superhydrophobic-superoleophilic jute fabric as a high-performance filter for separating oil-water mixtures in challenging environmental conditions. The fabric demonstrates high separation efficiency, stable recyclable properties, and outstanding durability, making it a promising solution for practical applications.