Hydrophobic aerogels for oil-spill clean up : synthesis and characterization

摘要: Abstract Hydrophobic aerogels were synthesized, characterized by IR, surface areas, relative pore size distributions and decomposition behavior. The materials then tested for oil absorbing capacity in salt-water mixtures applications to oil-spill clean up processes. Aerogels containing the CF 3 (CH) 2 -group (CF -aerogel) successfully synthesized using (CH O) 4 Si nominally 30, 10, 1.5 mol% ) Si(OCH CH OH a NH catalyzed reaction followed supercritical extraction with OH. found be hydrophobic based on water absorption sessile drop experiments. By was intact after gelation process drying. Si–OH-groups also all cases, decreasing amounts increasing of -group. Heating under air caused 30% -aerogel decompose, where transition temperature from hydrophilic appeared around 375–400 °C, which corresponded disappearance -moiety bands IR. Treating aerogel at an ratio 3.5 showed that -aerogels cleanly separated water, regardless concentration. This indicates can absorb as much 237 times their weight, more than previously determined.