Modifying commercial sponges using magnetic nanoparticles andinvestigating the separation of organic pollutants from water

As a source of life, water plays a decisive role in the existence and development of humansociety. However, global water pollution has become a much more pressing issue today [۱]. Thefrequent occurrence of oil and chemical spills has caused severe environmental pollution andenvironmental problems, which has made the separation of oil from water a serious challenge [۲].In this research, a hydrophobic sponge structure with high absorption capacity of organiccompounds was prepared. In all stages of the synthesis, we tried to use methods with less energy,water solvent, and low risk compounds to be based on green chemistry. First, iron oxidenanoparticles were synthesized by ultrasound waves and then coated with polyvinyl alcohol. FTIRanalysis was used to identify and investigate the synthesis and modification of nanoparticles.These modified nanoparticles were placed on the surface of polyurethane sponges. The modifiedsponges became hydrophobic after exposure to ۳۰۰ °C due to the partial destruction of the structureand the loss of hydrophilic functional groups. The investigation of the interaction between waterdrop and hexane drop showed that hexane is immediately absorbed by the modified sponge, whilethe water drop is not allowed to enter and is placed spherically on the surface of the sponge.Examining the absorption properties of these sponges also showed that they have a high and fastability to absorb organic pollutants from the water surface, so that when they come in contact withthe organic pollutants on the water surface, they immediately absorb and remove the organiccompound from the water surface

Keywords:

Iron oxide nanoparticles , hydrophobicity , separation of water from oil , environment