Double network cross-linked hydrogel coating membrane with photocatalytic self-cleaning performance for efficient oil-water separation
Researchers found that the double cross-linked gelatin hydrogel coating with tannic acid and g-C3N4 shows excellent performance in the separation of oil-water mixtures, with a separation efficiency of over 99% and a self-cleaning function through photocatalytic reactions.
Oil-water separation is one of the most attractive areas in the field of energy and the environment. However, the synthesis of oil-water separation membranes with high separation efficiency and anti-fouling via simple methods is still a challenge. In this work, a double network with tannic acid and g-C3N4 cross-linked gelatin hydrogel coating membrane was prepared via ultrasound and coating. The prepared hydrogel had excellent mechanical properties and swelling resistance and also endowed the membrane with underwater superoleophobicity.
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For stratified oil-water mixtures, the separation flux achieved 40,355 ± 1957 L·m−2·h−1 and separation efficiency higher than 99 %. Moreover, after 40 cycles, there was no decrease significantly in separation performance. For oil-in-water emulsions, the separation efficiency is >99.90 % under gravity. The adsorption of MB by the GE-CNTA-PP membrane conformed to a pseudo-first-order kinetic process (R2 = 0.99906), which was consistent with the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model (R2 = 0.99932). The contaminated membrane could self-clean via photocatalytic reaction, which mechanism was explained through theoretical investigation of the band structure of g-C3N4 by DFT. Due to these obvious advantages, the practical application of the gelatin-based hydrogel membrane in the purification of oily wastewater is promising. Source: Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 185, December 2023, 107882
