Yongchun Liu^1,*, Ni Qiao², Yanli Yang³, Yanchun Li¹, Chunxiao He¹, Siyang Wang¹, Chengcheng Liu¹, Ruixia Lei¹, Wang Li⁴, Wenwen Gao⁴

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.2, pp. 383-400, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.041928

Abstract A silylated melamine sponge (SMS) was prepared by two simple steps, namely, immersion and dehydration of a melamine sponge coated with methyltrichlorosilane. The silylated structure of SMS was characterized by FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy, SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) and in terms of water contact angles. Its oil-water absorption and separation capacities were measured by FT-IR and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The experimental results have shown that oligomeric silanol covalently bonds by Si−N onto the surface of melamine sponge skeletons. SMS has shown superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle exceeding 150° ± 1°, a better separation efficiency with regard to diesel oil (by 99.31% (wt/wt%)… More >

Demiao Chu¹, Redžo Hasanagić², Leila Fathi³, Mohsen Bahmani^3,*, Miha Humar⁴

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.12, pp. 4061-4078, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.043657

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the water absorption capacity of thermally modified and non-modified spruce and blue-stained spruce wood. The wettability of wood depends on various factors, including its type, density, porosity, and surface treatment. Wood can swell and become distorted when exposed to water or humidity, impacting its structural integrity. Hence, it is crucial to consider the water and water vapour uptake in the wood when choosing materials for applications that are likely to be exposed to moisture. Various moisture absorption tests were conducted to assess water absorption capacity, including short-term and long-term water absorption and water vapour absorption.… More > Graphic Abstract

Yunyun Song¹, Xu Zhang¹, Jialei Yang¹, Zhongqiang Zhang^1,*, Guanggui Cheng¹

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.25, No.2, pp. 1-1, 2023, DOI:10.32604/icces.2023.09916

Abstract Although floating oil with large particle sizes can easily be separated from water by membrane separation methods, tiny oil droplets with tremendously small volume force and density gradient at oil-water interfaces within water lead to barriers of oil-water separation. Consequently, tiny oil droplets remain in the water, resulting in energy waste, environmental pollution and biological health hazard. Traditional super-wetting membranes with extremely small pore sizes were easily blocked during the oil-water separation process. Inspired by the cactus and rice leaf, we developed a superhydrophobic-superoleophilic surface with conical micro-arrays to realize ultrafast adsorption of tiny oil droplets within the water. The… More >