Superwettable surfaces: an effective tool for oil/ water separation

Abstract

Recently, the environmental impact of oil spills has intensified the quest for efficient and sustainable methods for oil/water separation. To address this pressing environmental challenge, superwettable surfaces are being studied intensively. Superwettability is a property where the substrate surface exhibits extreme wetting properties, i.e., superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic, achieved by modifying the surface with micro/nano-hierarchical roughness and surface chemistry. Superhydrophobic surfaces, characterized by their extraordinary water-repellent properties, and superhydrophilic surfaces, with excellent oil-repellent behavior, can revolutionize the oil/water separation techniques. This inherent water-repellent or oil-repellent nature makes superwettable surfaces particularly adept at selectively repelling water while attracting and capturing oil-based substances or vice versa. This paper offers an in-depth evaluation of the current landscape of superwettable materials for oil/water separation. Despite the reported data displaying promising results, further intensive research is required to overcome the ethical, environmental, and durability constraints of nanotechnology intervention.