Oil and water are difficult to separate without leaving some impurities
Abaca Press/Alamy
The separation of oil and water mixtures is crucial for developing more efficient and environmentally-friendly methods to manage industrial waste. Recent experimental prototypes have demonstrated the potential to recover both components with an impressive purity exceeding 99.9 percent.
Currently, various techniques exist for this separation, such as centrifugation, mechanical skimming, and the use of chemicals or electrical charges. While semipermeable membranes are indeed one of the simpler methods, they often leave behind undesirable remnants of oil or water.
Recently, Hao-Cheng Yang and his team from Zhejiang University in China introduced a novel approach that utilizes two distinct membranes—one hydrophobic for oil and one hydrophilic for water. This innovation aims to enhance the efficiency of separation.
Yang articulated that past attempts at this method were hindered by fluctuating concentrations during the extraction process, which undermined membrane efficiency. However, by funneling the mixture into a narrow channel between the two membranes, oil droplets are more likely to cluster and be efficiently extracted by the hydrophobic layer, thus facilitating a continuous recovery cycle.
The researchers found that refining the channel width significantly increased oil recovery from a mere 5 percent to an astonishing 97 percent, while water recovery surged from 19 percent to 75 percent. With only minimal waste left behind, Yang is optimistic about scaling this process for industrial applications in the near future.
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Vocabulary List:
- Separation /ˌsep.əˈreɪ.ʃən/ (noun): The act of moving or being moved apart.
- Mixture /ˈmɪks.tʃər/ (noun): A combination of different substances.
- Hydrophobic /ˌhaɪ.drəˈfoʊ.bɪk/ (adjective): Repelling water; characterized by a lack of affinity for water.
- Efficiency /ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/ (noun): The ability to accomplish something with the least waste of time and effort.
- Remnants /ˈrem.nənts/ (noun): A small remaining quantity of something.
- Surged /sɝːdʒd/ (verb): Increased suddenly and powerfully.