ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Efficient and reusable oil/water separation using superhydrophobic melamine sponges functionalized with TiO₂ and thiolated graphene oxide

Tran Thi Viet Ha and Nguyen Minh Viet

Faculty of Advanced Technology and Engineering, VNU Vietnam Japan University, Hanoi, Vietnam

E-mail: ttv.ha@vju.ac.vn

Received: 17 March 2025  Accepted: 26 June 2025

Abstract:

Drawing inspiration from natural phenomena, this study presents a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method to fabricate novel superhydrophobic surfaces on melamine sponge (MS) bases for efficient oil–water separation. Melamine sponges were functionalized with thiolated graphene oxide or titanium dioxide to increase surface roughness, followed by stearic acid modification to impart hydrophobicity. The resulting sponges exhibited water contact angles exceeding 150°, with oil adsorption capacities up to 59.2 g/g and separation efficiencies reaching 96.5%, which are comparable to or exceed many previously reported superhydrophobic sorbents. Additionally, the modified sponges demonstrated excellent recyclability, maintaining over 72% of their initial adsorption performance after ten reuse cycles, highlighting improved durability over several existing materials. The fabrication method utilizes widely available materials and straightforward processing steps, indicating strong potential for scalability. Given their robustness, reusability, and high separation efficiency, these sponges offer promising prospects for practical applications in industrial wastewater treatment and oil spill remediation.

Keywords: Melamine sponge; Thiolated graphene oxide; Stearic acid; Superhydrophobic; Separation

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04216-z

Chemical Papers 79 (10) 6723–6734 (2025)