PFAS-Free, Biofouling-Resistant Flexible Polyurethane Foams (PUFs) for Efficient Oil Separation in Oily Wastewater
발표자
김한수 (단국대학교)
연구책임자
오준균 (단국대학교)
공동저자
김한수 (단국대학교), 오준균 (단국대학교)
초록
내용
Water pollution has long been a major environmental concern due to its adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. Among various wastewater challenges, the treatment of oily wastewater has received considerable attention. Polyurethane foam (PUF) is widely used as an oil-absorbent and filtration material in industrial applications; however, its relatively high surface energy leads to undesired adhesion of water and contaminants. In this study, the surface properties of PUF were enhanced while preserving its pore size and porous structure. The modified PUF efficiently and selectively absorbed and separated oil in water–oil mixed environments, and exhibited antifouling performance exceeding 99.7% against harmful bacteria, thereby suppressing contaminant adhesion. These results demonstrate that the proposed material holds strong potential as an eco-friendly functional material for oil spill remediation and emergency response applications.