Development of Textile Materials with Combined Hydrophobic and Oleophilic Properties

This study investigated the modification of cotton, linen, and blended fabrics to impart combined hydrophobic and oleophilic properties. The treatment was carried out using a sol-gel composition based on sodium silicate, potassium methylsiliconate, citric acid, and glyceryl monostearate. Due to the low solubility of glyceryl monostearate, the process was carried out in two stages: first, the fabrics were impregnated with an aqueous solution of sodium silicate (100 ml/l), citric acid (10 g/l), and potassium methylsiliconate (20–60 g/l). Then, after drying, a glyceryl monostearate solution (10–20 g/l) was applied by spraying. The adsorption capacity of the materials for petroleum products was 1.5868 ± 0.1434 g/g for cotton fabric, 1.6968 ± 0.0453 g/g for linen fabric, and 0.4792 ± 0.0137 g/g for blended fabric. An increase in water contact angle for cotton fabric (90–125°), linen fabric (95–140°), and blended fabric (110–145°) indicates a reduction in surface free energy and, consequently, an increase in hydrophobicity. Conversely, for a nonpolar liquid phase (model petroleum product), the opposite trend is observed. A decrease in the contact angle for cotton fabric (30–45°) and linen fabric (25–35°) indicates enhanced wetting by the oil phase and, therefore, improved oleophilic properties. Linen fabric, demonstrated best results, holding promise for oil spill response and wastewater treatment.