title: Efficient removal of oil from oil contaminated water by superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic nano/micro structured TiO2nanofibers coated mesh.
abstract: In this report, we investigated the TiO2nanofibers coated stainless steel mesh as a novel underwater superoleophobic membrane for the effective separation of contaminated oil-water mixtures. The membrane was fabricated by spray deposition of hydrothermally synthesized TiO2nanofibers on stainless steel mesh. The fabricated membrane exhibits superhydrophilicity and supereleophobicity properties in air and underwater respectively allowing the separation of oil-water efficiently. Randomly deposited TiO2nanofibers on mesh exhibit rough surface property and hence superhydrophilic nature. Water oil separation efficiencies of ∼90 and ∼99% were achieved with this filter for less viscous and highly viscous oil respectively. Additionally, the TiO2nanofibers coated mesh can degrade immiscible organic molecules due to photocatalytic activity of TiO2nanofibers under UV light. As a result of self-cleaning property of TiO2nanofibers coated mesh, the durability of the filter membrane is enhanced.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, CP 20000, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Udara Bimendra
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Gunatilake
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, CP 20000, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: bandaraj@ifs.ac.lk.
authors.forename: Jayasundera
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bandara
mesh_terms: D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D009821:Oils; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D013193:Stainless Steel; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Oil-water separation; Photocatalytic activity; Super-wetting membrane; Superhydrophilic; TiO(2) nanofibers; Underwater superoleophobicity