Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of surface roughness on droplet impact dynamics.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

Influence of liquid repellency and slipperiness on blood-material interactions.

Journal of materials chemistry. B·2026
Same author

Liquid crystal elastomer-based reversible metamorphosis for loss-less droplet manipulation.

Materials horizons·2026
Same author

Enhancing soft robots with chemical shielding for harsh corrosive liquid environments.

Materials horizons·2025
Same author

Electrostatic Defrosting.

Small methods·2025
Same author

Capillary-Wave-Driven Jumping Droplets on Superhydrophobic Colloidal Rafts.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2025
Same journal

Synergistic Visible-Light-Driven CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction and H<sub>2</sub>O Oxidation over Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub> Quantum Dot-Modified Cu/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Photocatalysts.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Spontaneous Phase Separation Enables Rapid, Polymerization-Free Fabrication of Gels.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Lamellar-Confinement-Induced ZIF-67 Nanosheet Mixed Matrix Membranes for Enhanced CH<sub>4</sub>/N<sub>2</sub> Separation.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Structure Control of Oblate Nanoparticles Self-Assembled by ABC Cyclic Terpolymers under Soft Confinement.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Tuning Brønsted/Lewis Acid Site Ratios via Ammonia Modulation for Selective Conversion of Glycerol to 1,3-Propanediol or Solketal.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
Same journal

Catalytic and Nitriding Competition of Nitrogen Atom on Graphene and Its Finite Rate Surface Chemistry Model.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Proof-of-Concept for Gas-Entrapping Membranes Derived from Water-Loving SiO2/Si/SiO2 Wafers for Green Desalination
09:39

Proof-of-Concept for Gas-Entrapping Membranes Derived from Water-Loving SiO2/Si/SiO2 Wafers for Green Desalination

Published on: March 1, 2020

7.5K

Oil-Water Separation using Synthetic Trees.

Ndidi L Eyegheleme1, Viverjita Umashankar2, Danielle N Miller3

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 7, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a synthetic tree for pumpless, gravity-defying oil-water filtration. The novel device achieves high-purity water from oil emulsions, offering eco-friendly solutions for cleanup and purification.

More Related Videos

Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS
08:17

Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS

Published on: March 3, 2017

11.2K
A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs
04:41

A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs

Published on: January 26, 2018

6.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Proof-of-Concept for Gas-Entrapping Membranes Derived from Water-Loving SiO2/Si/SiO2 Wafers for Green Desalination
09:39

Proof-of-Concept for Gas-Entrapping Membranes Derived from Water-Loving SiO2/Si/SiO2 Wafers for Green Desalination

Published on: March 1, 2020

7.5K
Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS
08:17

Chemical Analysis of Water-accommodated Fractions of Crude Oil Spills Using TIMS-FT-ICR MS

Published on: March 3, 2017

11.2K
A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs
04:41

A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs

Published on: January 26, 2018

6.3K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Conventional oil-water separation methods rely on external forces like gravity or pumps.
  • These methods can be energy-intensive and limited in efficiency, especially in complex environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel, passive oil-water filtration system.
  • To demonstrate the efficacy of a transpiration-powered synthetic tree for oil-water separation.

Main Methods:

  • A synthetic tree was constructed with a nanoporous 'leaf' for evaporative suction, glass tube 'xylem' for water transport, and oil-excluding 'root' filters.
  • The system was tested in an oil emulsion bath to assess its separation capabilities.

Main Results:

  • The synthetic tree achieved spontaneous oil-water separation without external pumps or gravity.
  • Filtrate analysis confirmed 97-98% water purity using gravimetry and refractometry.

Conclusions:

  • Transpiration-powered filtration using synthetic trees offers a sustainable and efficient alternative for oil-water separation.
  • This technology holds potential for applications in oil spill remediation, wastewater treatment, and resource recovery.