Novel self-assembly nano structured organic inorganic hybrid composite: high magnetic mobility and shell-less superhydrophobic-superoleophilic particles for demulsification

Abstract Nanostructured magnetic particles are promising candidate materials for oil/water separation, demulsification, and detoxification. A nanometer-sized magnetic composites with superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity surface is produced via self-assembly synthesis using Sol-Gel method. The oil/water separation performances of as prepared Methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS)/Diethoxymethylsilane (DEMS)-Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposite particles (MTMS/DEMS-Fe 3 O 4 NCPs) nanocomposites as demulsifications were investigated for oil removal. The properties of the composite were characterized using AFM, SEM, FTIR, XRD, Raman, TGA VSM and Interfacial Tension Analysis. The results show that MTMS/DEMS-Fe 3 O 4 NCPs are composed of Fe 3 O 4 -SiO 2 -CH 3 . More interestingly, the MTMS/DEMS-Fe 3 O 4 NCPs samples showed higher saturation magnetization values (Ms = 78.9 emu/g) compared to the pure Fe 3 O 4 NPs (Ms = 69.6 emu/g). The demulsification efficiency of the MTMS/DEMS-Fe 3 O 4 particles was found to be higher to that of Fe 3 O 4 particles under magnetic control. The effects of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles concentration on demulsification, oil absorbency, and oil/water selectivity were also investigated. The materials have good superhydrophobicity/superoleophilicity (CA water ≈ 160° and CA oil ≈ 0°) and excellent magnetic responsivity. It also show very high efficiency demulsification to oil-in-water emulsions and could quickly absorb floating oils on the surface and heavy oils on the bottom driven by magnet. In particular, the demulsification efficiency could reach about 97.5% at room temperature. Moreover, the preparation process of Superhydrophobic-superoleophilic particles is completely fluoropolymer-free. More importantly, the mixture of oil and demulsifiers could be seperated by ethanol and magnet, which is beneficial to the recycle. With great demulsification and recyclability performance, the superhydrophobic and superoleophilic micro/nano Fe 3 O 4 particles display great promise to achieve industrial applications in the future.