Non-expensive hydrophobic and magnetic melamine sponges for the removal of hydrocarbons and oils from water

Abstract

Abstract In this work, melamine sponges were functionalized, to obtain hydrophobic and magnetic materials capable to absorb oil and hydrocarbons, by the addition of stearic acid (SA) and ferrofluid (FF) in a simple way. Physicochemical and structural properties of melamine sponges with stearic (M-SA) and stearic acid with ferrofluid (M-SA+FF) were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the sponges have porous structure, which make them highly absorbent. Water contact angles (WCA), demonstrated that both (M-SA and M-SA+FF) sponges are hydrophobic, and that the SA concentration influences in WCA. The absorption capacity for hydrocarbons (toluene and diesel) and motor oil, was higher with M-SA than M-SA+FF sponges; both materials have good recyclability, and the separation of motor oil from water was done successfully in a continuous mode. The advantage of the M-SA+FF sponge is that it can be easily manipulated with an applied magnetic field. This work propose low cost and easy large scale manufacturing hydrophobic materials to separate oil from water.