Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Separation of Aldehydes and Reactive Ketones from Mixtures Using a Bisulfite Extraction Protocol
Published on: April 2, 2018
3D Printing of an Oil/Water Mixture Separator with In Situ Demulsification and Separation
Changyou Yan1,2, Shuanhong Ma3, Zhongying Ji4,5
1State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China. yanchangyou@licp.cas.cn.
Researchers developed a 3D-printed mesh with a special hydrogel coating for efficient oil-water separation. This innovative material effectively separates various oils from water, offering a convenient solution for environmental cleanup.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Effective oil/water mixture separation is crucial for environmental remediation.
- Designing and fabricating porous meshes with extreme wettability for separation remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a facile and effective method for fabricating superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic mesh (S-USM) for oil/water separation.
- To investigate the use of 3D printing technology for creating functional separation devices.
Main Methods:
- Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing of Fe/polylactic acid (PLA) composites.
- Fabrication of S-USM using hydrogel coatings via Fe(II)-mediated redox surface polymerization.
- Incorporation of aluminum chloride salt to enhance demulsification of oil-in-water emulsions.
Main Results:
- The fabricated S-USM demonstrated efficient separation of various oil-in-water mixtures, including dodecane, diesel, vegetable oil, and crude oil, with up to 85% efficiency.
- 3D printing enabled the facile creation of spherical oil skimmers with hydrogel coatings for floating oil removal.
- The S-USM exhibited superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity, crucial properties for effective separation.
Conclusions:
- 3D printing offers a flexible and promising manufacturing technology for creating advanced oil/water separation materials and devices.
- The developed S-USM and oil skimmers show significant potential for practical applications in environmental cleanup and water treatment.
- This work paves the way for expanding the use of 3D printing in developing customized devices for specific separation requirements.
Related Concept Videos
Separation of Sister Chromatids
At the onset of anaphase, separase, a proteolytic enzyme, is...
Optimizing Chromatographic Separations
Band broadening refers to spreading solute bands as they travel through the column. This broadening can impact resolution. Plate height (H) represents the length required for one theoretical plate. A lower plate height corresponds to...
Overview Of Cell Separation And Isolation
Types of Building Separation Joints
Volume-change joints address the effects of expansion and contraction due to temperature and moisture variations. They are strategically placed at discontinuities in a building's mass where cracking is most likely and are spaced about 150 to 200...
Mixtures of Acids
A Mixture of a Strong Acid and a Weak Acid
In a mixture of a strong acid and a weak acid, the strong acid dissociates completely and becomes a source of almost all the hydronium ions...
Mixtures of Acids
In a strong and weak acid mixture, the strong acid dissociates completely and becomes a source of almost all the hydronium ions present in the solution. In contrast, the weak acid shows...

