title: Nano-based systems for oil spills control and cleanup.
abstract: This paper reports the development of superhydrophobic nanocomposite systems which are also oleophilic. As hydrophobicity is based on low energy surface and surface roughness, the electrospinning technique was selected as the manufacturing technique. N,N' dimethylformamide (DMF) was employed as the polystyrene (PS) solvent. The "Tea-bag" (T-B) nanocomposite system is based on exfoliated graphite surrounded by PS superhydrophobic membranes. The T-B systems were tested regarding its adsorption and absorption rates. To test these properties, it was employed three different water/oil emulsions, i.e., new and used motor oil, which have physical properties (viscosity and specific gravity) similar to heavy crude oil extracted in Brazil, and vacuum pump oil (which does not form oil/water emulsion). It was observed that oil adsorption rate is dependent on oil surface tension, while the absorption rate is mainly dependent on membrane/exfoliated graphite surface area. Experimental data show that oil absorption rates ranged between 2.5g/g and 40g/g, while the adsorption rate oscillated from 0.32g/g/min to 0.80g/g/min. Furthermore, T-B systems were tested as containment barriers and sorbent materials with good results including its recyclability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: avila@demec.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Antonio F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Viviane C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Munhoz
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mayara C G
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Glenda R B S
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.affiliation: Civil Engineering Program, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D004655:Emulsions; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D010578:Petroleum; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D014783:Viscosity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D009821:Oils; D010578:Petroleum; D011137:Polystyrenes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D006108:Graphite
keywords: Exfoliated graphite; Hydrophobicity; Oil spills clean-up; Sub-micro membranes