Tomsk Polytechnic University—TPU, member of the Nedra Consortium—chemists have found a new use for polymer biomedical waste (surgical masks and hospital bedsheets). The material developed possesses hydrophobic and oleophilic properties, making it particularly efficient in purifying water from petrochemicals. Other notable properties of the material are its high oil absorption capacity and low material cost, TPU News Office informs.
“In the course of fundamental research, we obtained a prototype of the oleophilic fabric up to 65 square centimetres in size. Such a sample is a prototype for a potential application of the material. The fabric is spread on top of an oil spill, and a minute later, it is removed mechanically, taking all oil pollution with it and leaving clean water,” explains Pavel Postnikov, Associate Professor at TPU, supervisor of the research team.
The new material was synthesized by depositing a metal-organic framework (MOF) on pristine polypropylene. MOFs are porous organic compounds consisting of organic ligands and metal ions, Pavel adds.
”We used zinc and imidazole derivatives as a ligand. Due to the well-ordered structure, frameworks are nanoporous and possess a large specific surface area. To put it differently, they can absorb a considerable amount of substance: oils and oil spills,” says Olga Guselnikova, a colleague of Pavel at the TPU Research School of Chemistry and Applied Biomedical Sciences, a member of the research team.
The research was conducted using a range of oils, including model samples. For this purpose, the scientists simulated an oil spill: they mixed diesel, dyes, rust and other solid pollutants. The superhydrophobic oleophilic fabric proved to be efficient in removing contaminants. In addition, the experiments showed that it is resistant to mechanical stimuli and ultraviolet radiation.
Let us recall that USATU researchers have developed and patented a new environment-friendly sorbent for removing oily wastes. Its primary ingredient is beetroot pulp—a byproduct from processing sugar beet—only a quarter of which goes into recycling currently. One of the uses is to produce fodder.
