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

Surface modification of polyester fabrics for improving oil–water separation efficiency using air pressure plasma without any additives

Amirhossein Derakhshanfard, Yahya Dashti, Nima Adiban, Tahani Mazyad Almutairi, and Jafar Hussain Shah

Department of Mechanic, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran

E-mail: dfamirhossein@gmail.com

Received: 27 February 2024  Accepted: 31 July 2024

Abstract:

Herein, superhydrophilic polyester textiles were fabricated via plasma modification with a view to their application in the separation of oil–water mixtures. The research delved into the impact of fabric treatment and variations in grammage, including 77, 104, and 132 g/m² on separation performance and flux. The surface characteristics of the prepared polyester textiles were assessed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. Additionally, the antifouling properties and reusability of both fabrics without treatment and treated fabrics were examined. Notably, employing a five-layer treated fabric substantially improved separation efficiency up to 99.78%, and even after 5 cycles, it remained at 91.80%, attributable to the enhanced hydrophilicity conferred by APP treatment. In addition, after 20 abrasion cycles, the oil contact angle (OCA) of the five-layer treated polyester fabric decreased by 36 °.

Keywords: Polymers; Environmental Chemistry; Air pressure plasma; Textile refinement; Separation efficiency; Enhanced superhydrophilicity

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03655-4

Chemical Papers 78 (14) 8059–8070 (2024)