Surface hydrophobization of polyester fibers with poly(methylhydro-dimethyl)siloxane copolymers: Experimental design for testing of modified nonwoven materials as oil spill sorbents

• Published in: Polymer testing 2017-05, Vol.59, p.377-389
• Main Authors: Cojocaru, Corneliu, Pricop, Lucia, Samoila, Petrisor, Rotaru, Razvan, Harabagiu, Valeria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Contact angle; Copolymers; Design for recycling; Design modifications; Design of experiments; Dodecane; Fourier transforms; Hydrophobic surfaces; Hydrophobicity; Hydrophobization; Infrared spectra; Materials testing; Nonwoven fabrics; Oil spill sorbent; Oil spills; Optical fibers; Optical microscopy; Polyester nonwoven; Polyesters; Polysiloxane copolymer; Response surface methodology; Scanning electron microscopy; Sorbents; Sorption; Studies
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2017.02.024

This paper reports on the hydrophobization of polyester fibrous nonwoven with poly(methylhydro-dimethyl)siloxane copolymers in order to produce water-repellent sorbents for oil spill cleanup. Polysiloxane copolymers were first synthesized and characterized prior to be used as hydrophobization agents. The produced hydrophobic sorbents were characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX); infrared spectra (FTIR) and water-contact angle measurements (WCA). Nonwoven sorbents were evaluated for oil sorption in pure oil bath and in the presence of water (W-test). A statistical experiment design was employed for materials testing and the development of data-driven models. The optimal hydrophobic nonwoven yielded maximal sorption capacities equal to 5.52 g/g and 10.03 g/g for dodecane and motor oil uptake, respectively. The mechanism of oil attachment on polymeric fibers was investigated by optical microscopy revealing a key role of inter-fiber voids for oil retention. Centrifugation tests demonstrated a high recycling ability of spent nonwoven sorbents. [Display omitted] •Poly(methylhydro-dimethyl)siloxane copolymers were used for hydrophobization of polyester fibers.•New water-repellent nonwoven sorbents were developed for oil spill sorption.•Multiple regression models were established to predict sorption capacities.•Insights about structure, sorption mechanism and performance of polymeric sorbents were revealed.