Robust functional nanohybrid surface enables long-term oily wastewater remediation.

ABSTRACT: Robust and scalable materials for oil-water separation are often limited by corrosion, fouling, and mechanical damage. Here, we demonstrate a simple, rapid, and low-temperature surface conversion that transforms commercial 316L stainless-steel meshes into superhydrophilic, underwater-oleophobic filters. A two-step reaction followed by Fe³⁺-tannic acid-phosphate complexation yields a thin nanogranular FeOOH/TA/PO₄ hybrid film that is chemically anchored to the steel surface. The coating imparts rapid wetting behaviour, with a static water contact angle of about 45° and dynamic superhydrophilicity that achieves complete wetting within 0.15 s, enabling high-performance gravity-driven separations. Single-pass treatment of diverse oil-water mixtures delivered oil rejection

SUBMITTER: Chen Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12728155 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature