Sorbent system based on organosilane-coated polyurethane foam for oil spill clean up

Polymer Bulletin volume 78, pages1423–1440(2021)Cite this article

Abstract

In this study, flexible and open cell polyurethane foams were formulated and chemically modified with organosilane to be used as a sorbent system for oil spill cleanup. Six polyurethane foams with different densities and three oil types with different viscosities were investigated. Moreover, sorbents were characterized based on their surface modification and sorption capacities. The main results indicated that the surface treatment on the solid fraction of the foam was effective, observing by the contact angle, thereby increasing the hydrophobicity of the samples. Cell morphology and foam density directly affect the sorption capacity of foams. Foams with high densities are indicated for oils with low viscosity, and foams with low densities are indicated for viscous oils. The oil sorption capacity also depends on oil viscosity (and temperature).

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(adapted from Lu 2013) [31]

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). The experiment was assisted by Polymers Laboratory (LAPOL), Central Laboratory of Microscopy and Laboratory of Materials Chemical Reasearch at the University of Caxias do Sul.

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Affiliations

  1. Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Av. Universitária, 1105, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, CEP 88806-000, Brazil

    Matheus Vinícius Gregory Zimmermann

  2. Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), R. Francisco Getúlio Vargas, 1130, CEP 95070-560, Caxias do Sul, Brazil

    Ademir José Zattera & Bruna Rossi Fenner

  3. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, CEP 91501-970, Brazil

    Ruth Marlene Campomanes Santana

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  1. Matheus Vinícius Gregory Zimmermann
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  2. Ademir José Zattera
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  3. Bruna Rossi Fenner
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  4. Ruth Marlene Campomanes Santana
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Correspondence to Matheus Vinícius Gregory Zimmermann.

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Zimmermann, M.V.G., Zattera, A.J., Fenner, B.R. et al. Sorbent system based on organosilane-coated polyurethane foam for oil spill clean up. Polym. Bull. 78, 1423–1440 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-020-03169-5

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Keywords

  • PU foams
  • Sorbents
  • Organosilane
  • Oil spill