Preparation of the Electrospun Composite Nanofibers for Oils Absorption.

Abstract

Abstract In this study, polymeric materials that absorb oils floating on the surface of the water, such as paraffin oil, engine oil, and transmission oil, were prepared by electrospinning. The sorbent comprises Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/polystyrene (PS) nanofibers. The blend nanofibers were strengthened by (2.5,3.5.4.5, and 5.5) wt.% of Zirconia. Various physical tests were conducted on prepared nanofibers as Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and contact angle for water and oil. The results showed that the nanofiber diameters and average pore size reduction were 31.87 and 65.94%. In comparison, the increment in the overall porosity was 33.1% when reinforcing the PVC: PS nanofibers by 5.5 wt.% zirconia. Zirconia nanoparticles improve the crystalline and thermal properties, besides increasing the wettability of surfaces of polymeric absorbs by using water or oils. The absorption capacity of oil is much greater than the absorption capacity of water, and the absorption capacity of nanofibers reinforced with zirconia is higher than that of nanofibers of PVC: PS. The highest selectivity of transmission oil absorption by composite nanofibers indicated ease of separating the oils from the water surface.