Title : Development of new biocompatible and functionalized polyurethane sponges for efficient separation of oil from water emulsions
Abstract:
The industrial activities, increased usage of organic solvents and oil spills make water bodies highly contaminated that further poses significant risks to both human health and marine ecosystems. In this regard, there has been a constant demand for the development of new efficient materials for water purification. The known methods for the separation of oils and organic solvents from water emulsions include skimming, oil dispersants, and the application of filtering materials and sorbents. Among all these techniques, the usage of sorbents and filter materials is considered as one of the most effective techniques. The present research work is focused on the development of biocompatible and functionalized polyurethane foams. These foams can be synthesized from naturally sourced precursors and modified them in such a way that they exhibit hydrophobic and oleophilic properties under ambient conditions. These functionalized polyurethane foams are structurally characterized by a range of analytical, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Notably, these synthesized polyurethane sponges demonstrate the efficient separation of oils from their respective emulsions. Various factors influencing the separation capacity of these materials are discussed.
