# US 11,078,589 B2 · Hydrophobic stainless-steel copper-coated mesh and method of synthesizing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,589 B2 - Document ID: US11078589B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/553,749 - Filed: 2019-08-28 - Published: 2021-03-04 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-28 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company; King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company; King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals - Inventors: Fahd I. Alghunaimi; Nadeem Baig; Duaa Al Saeed; Tawfik A. Saleh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078589B2 ## CPC - C25D 5/36: of iron or steel - B01D 17/045: {with coalescers} - B01D 17/06: Separation of liquids from each other by electricity - C25D 3/38: of copper - C25D 5/48: After-treatment of electroplated surfaces - C25D 7/00: Electroplating characterised by the article coated - C25D 9/06: by anodic processes - B01D 39/12: of wire gauze; of knitted wire; of expanded metal - C25D 11/34: of metals or alloys not provided for in groups C25D11/04 - C25D11/32 - C25D: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Disclosed is a copper coated stainless-steel hydrophobic mesh and a method for synthesizing the hydrophobic mesh. In the method, a stainless-steel mesh is sonicated in a solution of acetone and ethanol, and then electroplated in a copper solution to form a copper coating on the surface of the mesh. The copper-coated stainless-steel mesh is treated with an oxidizing solution having an oxidizing potential applied to it. The mesh is then washed with water and dried. The copper-coated stainless-steel mesh is then immersed in a lauric acid solution. The mesh is then rinsed with ethanol to remove adsorbed lauric acid. After drying, the so-synthesized copper-coated stainless-steel hydrophobic mesh is characterized in that it has hydrophobic branches of lauric acid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for synthesizing a hydrophobic mesh, the method comprising: sonicating a stainless-steel mesh in a solution of acetone and ethanol; electroplating the stainless-steel mesh in a copper solution to form a copper coating on the surface of the stainless-steel mesh; treating the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh with an oxidizing solution, wherein an oxidizing potential is applied in the oxidizing solution, and wherein the oxidizing solution comprises 0.03M K2SO4 and 1M KOH; washing the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh with water and drying the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh; immersing the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh in a lauric acid solution; rinsing the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh with ethanol to remove adsorbed lauric acid; and drying the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh, wherein the hydrophobic mesh comprises hydrophobic branches of lauric acid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the stainless-steel mesh is sonicated for approximately 10 minutes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the copper solution is a CuSO4 solution. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a potential of approximately 2.5V to approximately 3.5V is applied to the copper solution during electroplating at a temperature of approximately 60° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the application of potential during the electroplating step results in the formation of a plurality of functionalized copper oxide growths on the surface of the stainless-steel mesh each having a diameter of approximately 3 μm to 40 μm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the oxidizing potential is approximately 2V. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lauric acid solution comprises 0.1M lauric acid solution in ethanol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of drying the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh comprises drying the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh in an oven at approximately 50° C. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein treating the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh with the oxidizing solution results in a mesh having an architecture on its surface that comprises a plurality of copper oxide growths. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic mesh displays a water contact angle of approximately 160°. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic mesh has a separation efficiency of greater than 99% for the separation of non-polar components from water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the non-polar components comprise hexane, heptane, nonane, and decane. ### Claim 13 A method for synthesizing a hydrophobic mesh, the method comprising: sonicating a stainless-steel mesh in a solution of acetone and ethanol; electroplating the stainless-steel mesh in a copper solution to form a copper coating on the surface of the stainless-steel mesh; treating the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh with an oxidizing solution, wherein an oxidizing potential is applied in the oxidizing solution; washing the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh with water and drying the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh; immersing the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh in a lauric acid solution; rinsing the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh with ethanol to remove adsorbed lauric acid; and drying the copper-coated stainless-steel mesh, wherein the hydrophobic mesh comprises hydrophobic branches of lauric acid, and wherein the oxidizing solution consists of 0.03M K2SO4 and 1M KOH.