Surface Functionalization of Polyurethane Foams for Enhanced Oil Absorption

In the global market, polyurethanes (PU) are seeing a surge in popularity, particularly in the form of covalently crosslinked microcellular foams, known as polyurethane foams (PUF). These PUF materials have emerging applications in various crucial sectors such as construction, infrastructure, foam mattresses, and insulation. However, the growing demand for microcellular materials is contributing to a national crisis as PU foam waste continues to accumulate. Although PU foam functionalization technology is not new, current methods are intricate and often involve in-situ functionalization with foaming, which is not suitable for post-consumer PU foam waste.

 

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a novel surface modification process for commercial polyurethane foams (PUFs) to improve their oleophilicity and hydrophobicity to enable selective oil absorption from water and waste management. By modifying the foam surface using chemical routes such as 2-(oxazolidin-3-yl)ethanol and tetradecyl isocyanate, the foams become high-value sorbents that address oil contamination in aquatic environments while providing a sustainable solution for PUF waste management. This functionalization of PUFs provide a viable pathway to expand the application of post-consumer PUFs in environmental remediation, aligning with circular economy principles. These modifications also offer a pathway to tune the surface characteristics of PUFs for a variety of applications outside of oil cleanup, such as water absorbing foams, or filtration media tailored for selective capture of contaminants.

 

This technology offers a novel and scalable method to upcycle polyurethane foams into efficient, selective sorbents for oil spill remediation and other applications.

 

 

 

For more information about this opportunity, please see