Mussel-inspired chitosan modified superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic cotton fabric for efficient oil/water separation

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 244; p. 116449
• Main Authors: Wang, Meng, Peng, Min, Zhu, Jiang, Li, Yi-Dong, Zeng, Jian-Bing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.09.2020
• Subjects: adhesion; adsorption; ambient temperature; chitosan; Chitosan - chemistry; coatings; Cotton fabric; Cotton Fiber; Eco-friendly; Emulsions - chemistry; Filtration; hydrophilicity; Indoles - chemistry; mussels; Oil/water separation; oils; Oils - chemistry; Polydopamine; Polymers - chemistry; renewable resources; Stability; ultrasonic treatment; Underwater superoleophobic; Water Purification; Polydopamine; Underwater superoleophobic; Oil/water separation; Stability; Cotton fabric; Eco-friendly
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116449

•Underwater superoleophobic cotton fabric was prepared by a mussel-inspired method.•The underwater superoleophobic cotton fabric is efficient in oil/water separation.•The underwater superoleophobic cotton fabric exhibited outstanding mechanical resistance.•The underwater superoleophobic cotton fabric showed excellent chemical resistance. Superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic textiles exhibit excellent oil/water separation performance but are limited by the poor stability and environmental incompatibility. Inspired by strong adhesion of marine mussels, we designed and fabricated a stable and eco-friendly superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic cotton fabric (CF) from all renewable resources through in-situ surface deposition of polydopamine (PDA) particles followed by adsorption of hydrophilic chitosan via dip coating at room temperature. The as-prepared superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic CF exhibited outstanding oil/water separation performance with separation efficiency and water flux higher than 99 % and 15,000 L m−2 h-1, respectively. Moreover, it not only showed excellent resistance to mechanical abrasion and ultrasound treatment but also had outstanding superwetting stability against acid/alkali/salt erosion. We believed that the eco-friendly superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic CF would exhibit great potential in oil/water separation especially under harsh conditions.