Modified Superhydrophobic Melamine Sponge as Highly Selective and Recyclable Sorbents for Oil/Water Separation

In this study, novel superhydrophobic surfaces were developed on melamine sponge bases using simple, costeffective, and environmentally friendly methods. Melamine was selected as the substrate material for the superhydrophobic treatment. The process involved coating the raw sponge surface with TiO2 or graphite to create surface roughness, followed by hydrophobization with stearic acid (SA). This approach easily transformed superhydrophilic melamine sponges into superhydrophobic ones, mainly due to the combination of surface roughness and the long carbon chain from SA. The resulting sponges demonstrate excellent oil-water separation properties. This research endeavor has the potential to offer innovative perspectives on the development of materials for the purpose of creating high-performance membranes for oil-water separation.