Chitosan interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels for oil–water and emulsion separation

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2023-08, Vol.140 (29), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Wu, Jiangqin, Lv, Zaosheng, Lei, Yang, Huang, Yanfen, Liu, Xuegang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: chemical stabilization; Chitosan; Contact angle; Crosslinking; Hydrogels; Interpenetrating networks; IPN hydrogels; Materials science; Mechanical properties; oil–water separation; Polyacrylamide; Polymers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Separation; super‐hydrophilicity
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.54058

Hydrogels have obtained extensive attention in oil–water separation due to their high hydrophilicity and weak viscosity. However, most hydrogels have limited applications due to their subpar mechanical qualities. The interpenetrating network gives the hydrogel material high mechanical properties due to the presence of physical and chemical crosslinking. Hence, polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/polyacrylamide interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel (HAPC‐Gel) was created in this study. HAPC‐Gel coating filter cloth showed underwater super‐oleophobic (the oil contact angles about 159°) and could stably separate oil–water mixtures in different oil phases and complex environments (acids, bases, salts), and the removal rate is still above 99% after 20 cycles of separation. Furthermore, the water could be divided from the oil‐in‐water emulsion. These results indicate that HAPC‐Gel composites have promising applications in oil–water separation. In this article, PVA/CS/PAM IPN hydrogel (HAPC‐Gel) was fabricated by two‐step free radical polymerization. HAPC‐Gel coating filter cloth showed underwater super‐oleophobic (the OCAs about 159°) and could stably separate oil–water mixtures in different oil phases and complex environments (acids, bases, salts), and the removal rate is still above 99% after 20 cycles of separation.