Efficient removal of oil from oil contaminated water by superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic nano/micro structured TiO2 nanofibers coated mesh

Abstract

In this report, we investigated the TiO₂ nanofibers coated stainless steel mesh as a novel underwater superoleophobic membrane for the effective separation of contaminated oil-water mixtures. The membrane was fabricated by spray deposition of hydrothermally synthesized TiO₂ nanofibers on stainless steel mesh. The fabricated membrane exhibits superhydrophilicity and supereleophobicity properties in air and underwater respectively allowing the separation of oil-water efficiently. Randomly deposited TiO₂ nanofibers on mesh exhibit rough surface property and hence superhydrophilic nature. Water oil separation efficiencies of ∼90 and ∼99% were achieved with this filter for less viscous and highly viscous oil respectively. Additionally, the TiO₂ nanofibers coated mesh can degrade immiscible organic molecules due to photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ nanofibers under UV light. As a result of self-cleaning property of TiO₂ nanofibers coated mesh, the durability of the filter membrane is enhanced.

Keywords: Oil-water separation; Photocatalytic activity; Super-wetting membrane; Superhydrophilic; TiO(2) nanofibers; Underwater superoleophobicity.