Graphitic carbon nitride/metal-organic framework composite functionalized cotton for efficient oil-water separation and dye degradation

Developing materials with low cost, simple preparation process and versatility remains a challenge to solve the problems of marine oil spills and organic dye pollution. In this work, graphitic carbon nitride/metal-organic framework was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. And through a simple soaking method, the surface of cotton was modified to prepare superhydrophobic cotton with photocatalytic ability. The modified cotton exhibits an excellent superhydrophobic angle (153.05 +/- 2 degrees), and can sorb oil more than 10 times the mass of its own. After nine replicate oil (dichloromethane)-water separation, the separation rate is still above 99%. Oilwater separation can be achieved in 0 degrees C water, acidic and alkaline conditions. It is worth mentioning that cotton can separate micro-nano-scale water droplets from water-in-oil (toluene, castor oil, et.) emulsions. In addition, the cotton was immersed in ethanol for hydrophilic conversion and placed in 25 mg/mL Eriochrome Black T. When the sorbent was saturated, the degradation reached 90% after 5 min of light in the presence of H2O2.