Photothermal Assisted Interfacial Cleaning with Semiconductor-Based Sorbents: Recent Advances and Future Outlook for Effective Oil Spill Remediation
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2024
Abstract
Oceanic oil spills exert enduring adverse effects on marine ecosystems and human health. In contrast to conventional cleaning methods, advanced oil sorbents present a promising technology characterized by low cost, reduced environmental impact, and exceptional hydrophobicity and oleophilic properties for efficient oil removal from seawater. Despite these advantages, the efficacy of sorbents is hindered by highly viscous oil, impeding the oil/water separation process. To overcome this limitation, solar-driven sorbents incorporating semiconductor materials are innovatively developed, leveraging increased temperatures to enhance crude oil absorption by reducing viscosity. Herein, a comprehensive review specifically focuses on various semiconductor-functionalized sorbents for oil spill remediation, elucidating oil weathering and traditional cleaning methods to underscore the complexities and challenges in oil cleaning processes. An in-depth discussion about the cleaning mechanisms of sorbents and the photothermal conversion processes facilitated by semiconductors is also provided. Additionally, it explores three coupling strategies-Joule heating and solar heating, photothermal effect, and magnetic effect, as well as photothermal and photocatalysis-that offer significant advancements in oil cleanup efficiency. Concluding with forward-looking insights, the challenges and perspectives for the next generation of ocean oil spill removal technologies are proposed at the end. Oil sorbent materials serve as an environmental-friendly solution to remediate oil spill incidents. State-of-the-art semiconductor designs as the functional material in oil sorbents open up possibilities for highly efficient oil cleanup. Herein, recent advances in photothermal semiconductor oil sorbent materials are critically reviewed along with the coupled strategies used to improve its oil cleanup effectiveness. image
Keywords
crude oil spills, hydrophobicity, oil absorption, photothermal effect, semiconductor materials
Divisions
PHYSICS
Funders
Ministry of Education, Malaysia (FRGS/1/2021/STG05/XMU/02/4),Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (XMUMRF/2021-C8/IENG/0044); (EENG/0003),Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund
Publication Title
Advanced sustainable systems
Volume
8
Issue
8
Publisher
Wiley-V C H Verlag GMBH
Publisher Location
POSTFACH 101161, 69451 WEINHEIM, GERMANY