Multifunctional applications of amino functionalized Ti3C2Tx: high flux oil/water separation and dye removal

Abstract

The problems of easy oil contamination, easy oxidation, and low dye removal ability of 2D MXene hinder its practical application in high-efficiency oil/water separation and dye removal. In this study, Ti₃C₂T_x was first modified using NH₃·H₂O to obtain intercalated Ti₃C₂T_x (TN), and then, N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] ethylenediamine (AEAPTMS) was used to conduct the surface aminated-modification of TN to achieve functional Ti₃C₂T_x (TN–AEAPTMS), which was then loaded onto polyurethane (PU) sponge to get TN–AEAPTMS@PU sponge. The low oil adhesion and super hydrophilicity/underwater super oleophobicity of TN–AEAPTMS@PU sponge enable excellent separation performance for oil/water mixtures of different densities. After being soaked in water for 45 days, TN–AEAPTMS can still maintain its original accordion-like morphology and hold good oil/water separation performance, overcoming the performance degradation caused by easy oxidation of Ti₃C₂T_x under water. More importantly, TN–AEAPTMS@MCE, which is acquired through vacuum suction filtration with TN–AEAPTMS loaded onto mixed cellulose ester microporous membrane, can remove various anionic and cationic organic dyes with high flux and removal rate, innovatively overcoming the poor adsorption performance of Ti₃C₂T_x for anionic dyes. Therefore, the TN–AEAPTMS composite exhibits excellent potential for practical applications in oil/water separation and dye removal.