Abstract
The current study reports the successful preparation of mesoporous polystyrene-co-polymethyl methacrylate/commercial graphene (PS-r-PMMA/CG) and polystyrene-co-polymethyl methacrylate/reduced graphene oxide (PS-r-PMMA/RGO) composites and their potential application for fast removal of oil from produced water. The copolymer composites were characterized by Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), and nano-indentation methods. The copolymer composites were fabricated into mesoporous structures by dissolving the polymer composites in a good solvent, followed by freezing at a very low temperature and subsequently exchanging the solvent crystals with non-solvent at elevated temperatures. The TGA and nano-indentation studies showed that the composites are thermally stable up to 401 °C with enhanced elasticity and hardness values. SEM and BET results showed that the fabricated structures are mesoporous with pore sizes ranging from 35 to 65 nm while the surface area can be as high as 220 m2/g. The fabricated mesoporous copolymer composites exhibit high adsorption capacities for oil from water solutions even at very low concentrations. The demonstrated high adsorption capacities and the excellent recyclability make polymer adsorbents potential candidates for produced water treatments.
[Display omitted]
•Thermo-mechanically enhanced mesoporous polymer composites for oil adsorption.•Mesoporous structures were attained through flash-freezing method.•Specific surface area of the mesoporous composite is as high as 220 m2/g.•Mesoporous polymer composite adsorbents exhibit high oil adsorption percentages.•The oil adsorbents are highly recyclable.