Preparation of open‐cell foams from polymer blends by supercritical CO₂ and their efficient oil‐absorbing performance

Abstract

Significance This letter reports on the hydrophobicity and oleophilicity of open‐cell foams from polymer blends prepared by supercritical CO 2 . A typical bulk density of the foam is measured to be 0.05 g/cm 3 . The contact angle of the foam with water is determined to be 139.2°. The foam can selectively absorb the diesel from water with the uptake capacity of 17.0 g/g. The foams are technologically promising for application of oil spill cleanup. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 62: 4182–4185, 2016