Adsorbent polymeric structures for separating polar liquids from non-polar hydrocarbons

A method of preparing an adsorbent polymeric structure according to formula (I):

• the method comprising:
• mixing graphene and at least one acid catalyst in a polar liquid in the presence of at least one alcohol to form an acid grafted graphene via esterification;
• and
• introducing the acid grafted graphene and at least one styrene monomer to water in the presence of an initiator to form the adsorbent polymeric structure according to formula (I) via emulsion polymerization, in which:
• the initiator breaks a double bond of the acid grafted graphene to produce a reactive site;
• the at least one styrene monomer polymerizes at the reactive site;
• R1 is an aliphatic moiety having 5 carbons to 15 carbons;
• n is an integer ranging from 1 to 20;
• and
• X1 is a graphene-containing moiety includes from 20 carbons to 100 carbons.

A method of fluidly separating at least one non-polar hydrocarbon from a polar liquid, the method comprising contacting an adsorbent polymeric structure according to formula (I):

• with the polar liquid comprising the at least one non-polar hydrocarbon;
• and
• allowing the polar liquid comprising the at least one non-polar hydrocarbon to be at least partially adsorbed by the adsorbent polymeric structure, such that the at least one non-polar hydrocarbon is fluidly separated from the polar liquid, in which:
• R1 is an aliphatic moiety having 5 to 15 carbons;
• n is an integer ranging from 1 to 20;
• and
• X1 is a graphene-containing moiety includes from 20 carbons to 100 carbons.