Superhydrophobic/superoleophilic porous adsorbents for oil-water separation: a comprehensive review of materials, fabrication techniques, and performance assessments.

The risk of water pollution from oil and chemical spills is rapidly increasing due to the development of marine and industrial activities. In addition to economic losses in the industry, oil and organic waste emissions have detrimental effects on vegetation, wildlife, the environment, air quality, and groundwater. These impacts pose a significant threat to human life and health. Oil pollution removal and destruction have been identified as crucial issues for protecting the environment and minimizing their negative effects on socio-economic activities. So far, a wide range of methods have been investigated to minimize oil pollutants in water resources. Recently, the design and development of porous, lightweight adsorbents with hydrophobic and oleophilic characteristics have gained significant attention. These materials are valued for their high adsorption capacity, selectivity, reusability, and efficient adsorption speed on a large scale. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of porous and hydrophobic adsorbents used in water and oil separation based on the surface adsorption mechanism. The basic challenges of this type of adsorbent for separating oil from water were presented as a starting point for discussion. In the following, influential parameters such as the type of adsorbents, hydrophobic agents, binding agents, the role of nanoparticles, and preparation methods were used. Finally, potential solutions for the development of hydrophobic and oleophilic porous materials with improved application in oil-water separation were presented. Hydrophobic and oleophilic porous materials are expected to be more widely used in the industry to separate oil from water in the future.