Multi-Fiber Blended Needle-Punched Nonwoven With Oleophilic and Self-Cleaning Properties for Oil Spill Cleanup

Abstract

This study investigates the self-cleaning, oleophilic, and oil spill clean-up properties of multi-fiber blended needle-punc lf-cleaning performance of the nonwoven fabrics is influenced by the fiber composition. All samples with a low overall surface energy of 27.65–33.46 mN m−1, especially those with a reduced polar component, demonstrate superior oil sorption of 13.83–19.45 g g−1 and retention capabilities of 91.11–98.83%. Oil-to-water selectivity of 13.66–42.60 and oil removal efficiency of 93.18–97.71% are achieved. The initial oil recovery rate (desorption) during the first desorption cycle (D1) ranges from 78.28% to 79.88%. This recovery rate remains consistently high, between 97.38% and 99.86%, throughout the second to tenth desorption cycles (D2 to D10) for all samples. The findings demonstrate that the blending of multi-fibers and web arrangement play a critical role in enhancing oil sorption and retention, oil selectivity, oil removal efficiency, reusability and self-cleaning with statistically significant performance (p < 0.05).