Volume expandable sorbent material for capture of organic fluids and solvents and methods of making the same
AssigneeCase Western Reserve University
InventorsBoran Zhao, Kristen Rohm, Xuehui Gong, Fan Wang, Donald Feke, Ica Manas-Zloczower
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Abstract
A compact, highly expandable sorbent made from polymeric materials is contemplated. The resulting sorbent can absorb more than 20 times its original volume owing to an internal foam-like structure having micron-level voids bisected by internal struts which themselves have nano-level pores. Further, this sorbent can be compressed and reused multiple times, thereby making it an ideal substance to facilitate separation of disparate fluids, such as oils floating on or within an aqueous solution.
Claims4
A polymeric foam synthesized from high internal phase emulsion precursor with inert diluent, wherein the high internal phase emulsion precursor contains oil phase consisting of monomers 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), at a ratio of (25-55):(25-55):(15-25) by mass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.