MIL-100(Fe)-derived carbon sponge as high-performance material for oil/water separation

High hydrophobic and oleophilic hybrid porous sponges were prepared by coating low cost commercial melamine-formaldehyde sponges with a metal-organic framework (MOF) derived porous carbon. A mesoporous metal-organic framework MIL-100(Fe), obtained under mild conditions, was used as precursor material to obtain highly porous carbon, which was incorporated by a simple method onto the three-dimensional skeleton of the commercial sponge. Due to the porous structure and high hydrophobic (water contact angle of 145 ± 6°) and oleophilic (oil contact angle of 0°) properties of the developed hybrid sponges, they were successfully applied for oil-water separation. The carbon coated sponge exhibited excellent selectivity, good absorption capacity of different oils and the advantage of being easily regenerable. Moreover, the hybrid sponge was used in conjunction with a vacuum system for continuous separation of oil pollutants from the water surface showing excellent oil-absorption abilities even in the case of real saltwater samples.