Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Abstract
We present a scalable, low-cost method to fabricate durable, superhydrophobic-superoleophilic steel wool for oil- water separation. The process involves zinc electroplating, hot water treatment (75◦C) to grow ZnO nanowires, and functionalization with 1-dodecanethiol. The resulting material exhibits a water contact angle of ~160◦ and an oil contact angle of ~0◦. It achieves a high oil absorption capacity (~18 times its weight) and separation efficiencies of ~99–100 % for cyclohexane (within 60 s) and crude oil (in under 3 min). The material demon- strates exceptional corrosion resistance in saline environments (14 wt% NaCl), retains its nanostructural integrity after prolonged exposure, and maintains performance over multiple reuse cycles without degradation. This combination of rapid oil capture, environmental durability, and scalable fabrication underscores its potential for real-world oil spill remediation and wastewater treatment.
Department
Physics
Publication Date
12-2025
Recommended Citation
Nawzat, Saadi, "Scalable and durable superhydrophobic-superoleophilic nanostructured zinc-coated steel wool for efficient oil-water separation" (2025). Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering,13, 6.ScholarHub@UALittleRock https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.119644.
