Dual-bionic superwetting gears with liquid directional steering for oil-water separation.

ABSTRACT: Developing an effective and sustainable method for separating and purifying oily wastewater is a significant challenge. Conventional separation membrane and sponge systems are limited in their long-term usage due to weak antifouling abilities and poor processing capacity for systems with multiple oils. In this study, we present a dual-bionic superwetting gears overflow system with liquid steering abilities, which enables the separation of oil-in-water emulsions into pure phases. This is achieved through the synergistic effect of surface superwettability and complementary topological structures. By applying the surface energy matching principle, water and oil in the mixture rapidly and continuously spread on preferential gear surfaces, forming distinct liquid films that repel each other. Th

SUBMITTER: Liu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10338494 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature