Fabrication of superhydrophobic and superoleophilic polymer composite coatings on cellulosic filter paper for oil-water separation

Generation of efficient and reusable superhydrophobic and superoleophilic coatings for oil-water separation have received substantial interest in material science. In the present work, porous superhydrophobic and superoleophilic LLDPE and SiO2 + LLDPE coatings on cellulosic filter papers were fabricated using a solution casting technique. Surface morphology, water contact angle, and chemical composition of uncoated and coated filter papers were characterized. SiO2 + LLDPE coating on filter paper shows the maximum water contact angle of 167.8 degrees +/- 1.4 degrees and sliding angle of 3.8 degrees +/- 0.5 degrees. In addition, thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability of the coatings were also studied. Additionally, water-drop impact dynamics for the superhydrophobic coatings were also studied. Further, efficiency and reusability of coated filter papers to remove petroleum ether and benzene from an oil-water mixture were also characterized.