Three-dimensionally macroporous Fe/C nanocomposites as highly selective oil-absorption materials

In this study, three-dimensionally macroporous Fe/C nanocomposites were investigated as highly selective absorption materials for removing oils from water surface. The macroporous nanocomposites were synthesized by sintering a mixture of closely packed polystyrene microspheres and ferric nitrate precursor. These nanocomposites exhibited superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties without the modification of low-surface-energy chemicals. And the pore size of the nanocomposites, which is crucial for the oil-absorption capacity, was tuned by varying the diameter of polystyrene microspheres. The macroporous nanocomposites fast and selectively absorbed a wide range of oils and hydrophobic organic solvents on water surface, and the removal of the absorbed oils from the water surface was readily achieved under a magnetic field. Moreover, the nanocomposites still kept highly hydrophobic and oleophilic characteristics after repeatedly removing oils from water surface for many cycles. Because of frequently occurring environmental pollution arising from oil spills and chemicals leakage, the results of this study might offer a kind of efficient and selective absorbent materials for removing oils and nonpolar organic solvents from the surface of water.