Remediation of oil-contaminated water for reuse using polymeric nanocomposites

Abstract In this study, polymeric nanocomposites were synthesized from nylon 6 (N6), carbon nanotubes (NT), and four nanofibers (classified as nanofibers 5–8). Morphology, microstructure, surface chemistry, and phases of the synthesized materials (N6, NT, samples 5, 6, 7, and 8) were checked using scanning electrons microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OPM)/imageJ, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometer, respectively. The composite materials were used to purify oil-contaminated water by adsorption. The contaminated and purified water samples were tested for pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, and total hydrocarbon content. Images from the SEM and OPM reveal that the polymeric nanocomposites are sponge-like and the results from FTIR indicate that the polymeric nanocomposites consisted of both the nylon 6 and the nanomaterials. The XRD patterns show that the NT nanocomposites consisted of carbon phases [graphite-2H (C), and C60], while sample N6, sample 5, sample 6, and sample 7 consisted of carbon oxalate hydrate (CaC2O4.H2O) and hydrophilite (CaCl2). In addition, sample 8 comprised partly thenardite from nanofiber 8 and graphite-3R (C). The polymeric nanocomposites, containing the nanofibers, were more thermally stable in comparison to N6 and NT nanocomposites. Results of the thermogravimetric analysis indicate that sample 5 degraded at a least temperature of 360°C at 64 min, while NT and N6 degraded at 433°C and 432°C, respectively, within 34 min. Furthermore, samples containing nanomaterials possessed higher crystallite sizes when compared to that of N6. These nanocomposite materials could be explored as adsorbents for water and wastewater treatment. Sample 8 was found to be more effective in improving the quality of the petroleum products contaminated water.