Multifunctional alginate-based carbon aerogels for oil–water mixture and emulsion separation

Abstract

Efficient separations of both water-in-oil (W/O) and oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions are still challenging. In this study, a alginate-based carbon aerogel (AB carbon aerogel) as oil-water separation materials were prepared by wet spinning, high-temperature carbonization, and acidification, which were characterized using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and oil and water contact angle. AB carbon aerogel revealed multifunctional separations of immiscible oil-water mixtures and emulsifier-stabilized W/O and O/W emulsions. The separation fluxes and separation efficiencies were 131 L m⁻² h⁻¹ and 99.02% for water-in-CCl₄ emulsion, and were 94 L m⁻² h⁻¹ and 98.97% for n-hexane-in-water emulsion, respectively. The multifunction of AB carbon aerogel is due to the amphiphilicity.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Carbon aerogel
• emulsion separation
• alginate

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (61405100), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2012EMQ006), Taishan Scholar Program of Shandong Province, and Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles (Qingdao University, No. ZFZ201802).