title: Coupling Underwater Superoleophobic Membranes with Magnetic Pickering Emulsions for Fouling-Free Separation of Crude Oil/Water Mixtures: An Experimental and Theoretical Study.
abstract: Oil/water separations have become an area of great interest, as growing oil extraction activities are increasing the generation of oily wastewaters as well as increasing the risk of oil spills. Here, we demonstrate a membrane-based and fouling-free oil/water separation method that couples carbon nanotube-poly(vinyl alcohol) underwater superoleophobic ultrafiltration membranes with magnetic Pickering emulsions. We demonstrate that this process is insensitive to low water temperatures, high ionic strength, or crude oil loading, while allowing operation at high permeate fluxes and producing high quality permeate. Furthermore, we develop a theoretical framework that analyzes the stability of Pickering emulsions under filtration mechanics, relating membrane surface properties and hydrodynamic conditions in the Pickering emulsion cake layer to membrane performance. Finally, we demonstrate the recovery and recyclability of the nanomagnetite used to form the Pickering emulsions through a magnetic separation step, resulting in an environmentally friendly, continuous process for oil/water separation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States.
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Dudchenko
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States.
authors.forename: Julianne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States.
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olivas
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States.
authors.forename: Wenyan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jassby
keywords: Pickering emulsion; fouling prevention; oil/water separation; ultrafiltration; underwater superoleophobic membranes