King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Nadeem Baig

Tawfik Abdo Saleh Awadh

Abdel-Nasser Metwally Aly Kawde

Tawfik Abdo Saleh

Fahd Ibrahim Alghunaimi

Ibrahim Khan

Muhammad Waqar Ashraf

A H Hendi

Muhammad Mansha

Safyan Akram Khan

Shahid Ali

Duaa J Al Saeed

Hind Saleh Aldossary

A composite material of polyurethane foam having a layer of reduced graphene oxide and polystyrene is described. This composite material may be made by contacting a polyurethane foam with a suspension of reduced graphene oxide, drying, and then irradiating in the presence of styrene vapor. The composite material has a hydrophobic surface that may be exploited for separating a nonpolar phase, such as oil, from an aqueous solution.

Method for separating nonpolar hydrocarbon from water

Method for making a polyurethane composite material

Method for separating nonpolar compounds from aqueous solutions

Polystyrene waste, such as Styrofoam&#xae; waste, and carbon nanofibers may be used to produce highly hydrophobic compositions or composites that can separate oil and water. Methods for purifying an aqueous solution may include: passing the aqueous solution, including a hydrophobic organic substance, over or through a surface including a polystyrene-CNF composition, thereby producing an aqueous product including less of the hydrophobic organic substance; and optionally, passing the aqueous product over or through the surface at least one more time.

Method for removing organic pollutants from contaminated water using polystyrene-carbon nanofiber composition made from post-consumer waste

A hybrid photoactive heterojunction including a copper vanadate, CuVO(CVO) and a zinc vanadate, ZnVO(ZVO). Particles of the ZVO are dispersed in particles of the CVO to form the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. The hybrid photoactive heterojunction in the form of a photoactive film includes a substrate which is at least partially coated with the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. A method of photodegrading a dye includes contacting the photoactive film and the dye in a solution and exposing the solution to light. A method of photoelectrochemically oxidizing water includes contacting the photoactive film with water in a solution and exposing the solution to light.

Method of photodegrading dyes

Graphene reinforced polystyrene composite for separation of nonpolar compounds from water

Composite materials for removing hydrophobic components from a fluid include a porous matrix polymer, carbon nanotubes grafted to surfaces of the porous matrix polymer, and polystyrene chains grafted to the carbon nanotubes. Examples of porous matrix polymer include polyurethanes, polyethylenes, and polypropylenes. Membranes of the composite material may be enclosed within a fluid-permeable pouch to form a fluid treatment apparatus, such that by contacting the apparatus with a fluid mixture containing water and a hydrophobic component, the hydrophobic component absorbs selectively into the membrane. The apparatus may be removed from the fluid mixture and reused after the hydrophobic component is expelled from the membrane. The composite material may be prepared by grafting functionalized carbon nanotubes to a porous matrix polymer to form a polymer-nanotube composite, then polymerizing styrene onto the carbon nanotubes of the polymer-nanotube composite.

Composite material for removal of hydrophobic components from fluid mixtures

Hybrid photoactive heterojunction and method of preparation thereof

A method for detecting mercury (Hg) ions in an aqueous solution is described. The method includes contacting the aqueous solution with a chemosensor to form a mixture; and monitoring a change in a fluorescence emission profile of the chemosensor in the mixture to determine the presence or absence of Hgions in the aqueous solution. The chemosensor includes pyrene silica nanoparticles where at least one pyrene is bonded to a surface of a silica nanoparticle through an amide bond with a formula of, pyrene-C(&#x2550;O)NHR-silica nanoparticle, and where R is an alkyl chain.

Method for detecting mercury with pyrene functionalized silica nanoparticles

Vapor phase polymerization can be used to synthesize a 3D porous network of polystyrene-containing, branched carbon nanofibers on polyurethane(s), optionally using natural light (NL) initiation. NL styrene polymerization in a confined reactor containing CNF-grafted PU can provide a stable porous network. The NL can vaporize the styrene by increasing the reactor temperature and generate styrene radicals. Without CNF, the polymerization on polyurethane (PU) provides a delicate, fragile surface. Radical styrene in vapor phase can interact with CNF to produce polystyrene branches by generating active sites on CNF, while reinforcing the 3D porous structure. After polymerization, the PU surface area increased from 9 to 184 m/g and pore size decreased from 2567 to 10 &#x212b;. 3D porous networks of NL-assisted PS branched CNF supported PU can provide a hydrophobic, oleophilic surface with a water contact angle of approx 148&#xb1;3&#xb0;, rapidly gravity separating hexane and water without external force.

Water purification material for petrochemicals

A composite of polyurethane foam grafted with carbon nanofibers is described. This composite foam may be made by contacting and drying a polyurethane foam with a suspension of carbon nanofibers and then drying. Additional carbon nanofiber layers may be added with repeated contacting. The composite film has a high surface area of 276 m/g and a hydrophobic character that may be exploited for separating an oil phase from water.

Carbon nanofiber grafted polyurethane composite for separation of nonpolar components from water

Disclosed is a copper coated stainless-steel hydrophobic mesh and a method for synthesizing the hydrophobic mesh. In the method, a stainless-steel mesh is sonicated in a solution of acetone and ethanol, and then electroplated in a copper solution to form a copper coating on the surface of the mesh. The copper-coated stainless-steel mesh is treated with an oxidizing solution having an oxidizing potential applied to it. The mesh is then washed with water and dried. The copper-coated stainless-steel mesh is then immersed in a lauric acid solution. The mesh is then rinsed with ethanol to remove adsorbed lauric acid. After drying, the so-synthesized copper-coated stainless-steel hydrophobic mesh is characterized in that it has hydrophobic branches of lauric acid.

Hydrophobic stainless-steel copper-coated mesh and method of synthesizing same

A modified graphite electrode comprising a coating of electrochemically reduced graphene oxide. The modified graphite electrode may be employed in detecting of uric acid. A sensing device comprising the modified graphite electrode and a method of making the modified graphite electrode are described herein.

Growing community of inventors

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Nadeem Baig