Issue 20, 2024

Bioinspired superwetting oil–water separation strategy: toward the era of openness

Abstract

Bioinspired superwetting oil–water separation strategies have received significant attention for their potential in addressing global water scarcity and aquatic pollution challenges. Over the past two decades, the field has rapidly developed, reaching a pivotal phase of innovation in the oil–water separation process. However, many groundbreaking studies have not received extensive scientific recognition. In this review, we systematically examine the application of bioinspired superwetting materials for complex multiscale oil–water separation. We discuss the development of 2D membrane filtration and 3D sponge adsorption materials in confined spaces, summarizing the core separation mechanisms, key research findings, and the evolutionary logic of these materials. Additionally, we highlight emerging open-space separation strategies, emphasizing several novel dynamic separation devices of significant importance. We evaluate and compare the design concepts, separation principles, materials used, comprehensive performance, and existing challenges of these diverse strategies. Finally, we summarize these advantages, critical bottlenecks, and prospects of this field and propose potential solutions for real oil–water separation processes from a general perspective.

Graphical abstract: Bioinspired superwetting oil–water separation strategy: toward the era of openness

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
14 Aug 2024
First published
20 Sep 2024

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024,53, 10012-10043

Bioinspired superwetting oil–water separation strategy: toward the era of openness

Z. Liu, Y. Si, C. Yu, L. Jiang and Z. Dong, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024, 53, 10012 DOI: 10.1039/D4CS00673A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements