Surface Modification of Balsa Wood for Functional Oil/Water Separation
| Meeting | VIWC2026 |
| Topic | OS3: Water Environment and Mining |
| Author | Huong T.T. Tong |
| Organization | Hanoi University of Mining and Geology |
| DOI | 2022.1670558843 |
Abstract
The ecological environment is in danger due to severe pollution brought on by industrial emissions and oil spills, which are global problems. This article has been dedicated to developing effective and eco-friendly approaches for separation of oil−water mixtures. Inspiration from the tubular porosity and hierarchical organization of wood, a mesoporous, and hydrophobic three-dimensional wood structure is developed for selective oil/water separation. Nanostructured wood with naturally aligned cellulose microfibrils, cell wall nanoporosity, and precisely tuned composition has opened up numerous possibilities for advanced design of functional materials.<br> In the current study, balsa wood was modified in just two steps: delignification and liquid phase imbibition, to acquire simultaneously hydrophobic and oleophilic qualities. According conventional wisdom, hydrophobic surfaces exhibit underwater lipophicility while hydrophilic surfaces do the opposite. Here, from a chemical point of view, a lignocellulosic fiber surface with hydrophobic characteristics was successfully fabricated by the strategically adjusted condensation of acetone and epoxy. The morphology and characteristics of epoxy-wood were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, and the oil/water contact angles.
Keyword: epoxy-wood biocomposite, deligninfied, oil/water separation, hydrophobicity
