A review on hydrophobic materials in oil–water separation

Abstract

With the rapid development of industry, the emission of oil-containing waste has increased significantly, causing serious damage to the ecological environment. Inspired by the typical biological surface superhydrophobic phenomenon in nature, hydrophobic materials have gained widespread attention from scientists in the oil–water separation field due to their advantages of high separation efficiency, simple preparation methods, eco-friendliness, and low cost. In this review, the inspiration, properties and commonly used methods for constructing hydrophobic substances are first introduced. Next, research results of hydrophobic substances in the field of oil–water separation are reviewed. Last but not least, the challenges and future development direction in the field of hydrophobic substances are discussed.