Hydrophobic-Superoleophilic Fluorinated Graphene Nanosheet Composites with Metal-Organic Framework HKUST-1 for Oil-Water Separation

The spills of oils and petroleum byproducts into water bodies cause severe damage to aquatic species and humans along with massive loss to economy. Efficient methods using state of art sorbent materials to separate oil from oil-water mixtures are currently underway comprising simple synthesis of high separation efficiency, lightweight, and durable composites. In this work, we report a room temperature synthesis of hydrophobic/superoleophilic nanoporous composites based on multilayered fluorinated graphene (FG) nanosheet supported copper-based metal organic framework (HKUST-1) by a "solution assisted self-assembly route". The formation and chemical connectivity of FG-HKUST-1 composite was systematically characterized followed by measuring solvent contact angles and surface free energy by contact angle goniometer. The self-cleaning and solution processability of the FG-HKUST-1 materials was explored toward oil and organics sorption followed by oil recovery from oil-water mixtures. Furthermore, FG-HKUST-1 composite sponges display excellent chemical and physical stabilities under harsh conditions.