Flexible superhydrophobic polysiloxane aerogels for oil–water separation via one-pot synthesis in supercritical CO2

Fangxin Zou; Li Peng; Wenxin Fu; Jianling Zhang; Zhibo Li

doi:10.1039/C5RA13023A

Flexible superhydrophobic polysiloxane aerogels for oil–water separation via one-pot synthesis in supercritical CO₂†

Fangxin Zou,^a Li Peng,^b Wenxin Fu,*^a Jianling Zhang*^b and Zhibo Li*^c

* Corresponding authors

^a Beijing National Laboratory of Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongguancun North First Street 2, Beijing 100190, China
E-mail: fuwenxin@iccas.ac.cn

^b CAS Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongguancun North First Street 2, Beijing 100190, China
E-mail: zhangjl@iccas.ac.cn

^c School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
E-mail: zbli@qust.edu.cn

Abstract

Porous aerogels are an inspiring absorbent for oil–water separation and water purification. In particular, hydrophobic silica aerogels from abundant and cheap sources offer both economical and environmental benefits. Conventional silica aerogels from alkoxy siloxane precursors involve time-consuming and laboursome multistep processes. Herein, we demonstrate the formation of flexible superhydrophobic polysiloxane aerogels through a facile hydrosilylation from functionalized polydimethylsiloxane in supercritical carbon dioxide. This robust aerogel exhibits a high oil absorption capacity, superior recyclability and extraordinary mechanical properties even under harsh heating and cooling cycles. These characters favor this polysiloxane aerogel as being more competitive than common alkoxy silica ones for oily water treatment, oil spill clean-up and oil recovery.

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Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA13023A
Article type: Paper
Submitted: 04 Jul 2015
Accepted: 27 Aug 2015
First published: 27 Aug 2015

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RSC Adv., 2015,5, 76346-76351

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Flexible superhydrophobic polysiloxane aerogels for oil–water separation via one-pot synthesis in supercritical CO₂

F. Zou, L. Peng, W. Fu, J. Zhang and Z. Li, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 76346 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA13023A

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