An ultrafast oil-water separator and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The application relates to an ultrafast oil-water separator and a use method thereof, belonging to the field of oil-water separation, and comprising a water containing container, an oil containing container, internal water, internal oil, an oil discharging pipe and a connecting part. The water containing container is a hollow cuboid structure with an open top end. The bottom surface of the oil containing container is provided with an underwater super oil-wet through hole array arranged in a staggered mode, an annular underwater super oil-wet region is arranged around each hole on the outer surface of the bottom surface, and other regions on the outer surface of the bottom surface are underwater super oil-repellent regions; the oil containing container is fixed in the water containing container through the connecting part. In use, water is injected into the water containing container, the oil containing container is connected with the oil discharging pipe, oil is injected into the oil containing container, and the ultrafast oil-water separator is formed. The ultrafast oil-water separator has the advantages of high oil drop permeation rate and high oil-water separation rate, can separate a large amount of oil-water mixture in a short time, and can be designed according to the size of the underwater super oil-wet hole and the size of the hole center distance to adapt to different flow rates of the sprayed oil-water mixture, so that the best oil-water separation effect is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of oil-water separation, and mainly relates to an ultrafast oil-water separator and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] Oily wastewater originates from a wide range of sources, including steelmaking, oil extraction, and food processing. This oily wastewater can pollute drinking water sources, flow into rivers and lakes, or enter the soil, thus threatening the natural environment and human health. Traditional separation methods, including sedimentation, centrifugation, and flocculation, are widely used to separate oil-water mixtures. However, these methods require complex equipment, additional chemical reagents, or additional energy, and suffer from low separation efficiency and high costs. Therefore, researchers have been searching for a more efficient and cost-effective separation method, but the results have not been ideal. In 2004, Lin Feng et al. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences first reported a spontaneous oil-water separation method based on an extremely wettable mesh with both superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties (Feng, L.; Zhang, ZY; Mai, ZH; Ma, YM; Liu, BQ; Jiang, L.; Zhu, DB, A Super-hydrophobic and Super-oleophilic Coating Mesh Film for the Separation of Oil and Water. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2004, 43(15), 2012-2014.). Due to its oleophilicity, oil spontaneously passes through the pores of the mesh and is collected; due to its hydrophobicity, water is blocked and does not pass through the mesh. This method significantly improves separation efficiency and reduces separation costs. Given its effectiveness, spontaneous oil-water separation methods based on extremely wettable materials have become a research hotspot, with more than 1,000 related papers published in the past 20 years. Oil-water separation methods based on highly wettable materials can be divided into three main categories: capillary-driven absorption, negative pressure-driven absorption, and gravity-driven filtration. While these three methods are low-cost, their separation efficiency is not high enough. Furthermore, capillary-driven absorption is almost unable to continuously absorb oil due to material saturation; and negative pressure-driven absorption cannot spontaneously absorb oil without externally applied negative pressure.

[0003] In summary, existing oil-water separation methods suffer from low separation rates, making it difficult to meet the demand for separating large quantities of oil-water mixtures in a short time. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an oil-water separator for rapid separation of oil-water mixtures. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the problem of low separation rate in the above-mentioned oil-water separation methods by proposing an ultrafast oil-water separator.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] An ultrafast oil-water separator includes a water container 1, an oil container 2, water 3, oil 4, an oil drain pipe 5, and a connector 6.

[0007] The water container 1 is a hollow cuboid structure with an open top, filled with water 3, and a connector 6 is installed on its top. The bottom surface of the water container 1 is connected to the external structure, and is used to vertically spray the oil-water mixture to be treated into the water 3 inside it onto the outer surface of the bottom surface of the oil container 2.

[0008] The oil container 2 is a hollow cuboid structure with an open top. Its interior is used to inject oil 4 and collect oil from the oil-water mixture to be treated. It is located above and inside the water container 1. The top surface of the oil container 2 is fixed to the middle of the inner surface of the connector 6 (i.e., the oil container 2 is fixed inside the water container 1 via the connector 6), and the bottom surface of the oil container 2 is below the water surface of the water container 1. The bottom surface is made of metal and has multiple staggered underwater superoleophilic through-hole arrays 7, consisting of multiple through-holes. The outer surface of the bottom surface of the oil container 2 has an annular underwater superoleophilic region around each through-hole. The outer diameter of this annular underwater superoleophilic region is 1.0–1.1 mm larger than the diameter of the underwater superoleophilic through-hole, and the inner diameter is the diameter of the through-hole. The other areas of the outer surface are underwater superoleophobic regions. An oil drain pipe 5 installation hole is provided in the upper middle part of one side wall of the oil container 2 for connection to the oil drain pipe 5. After the oil container 2 collects a certain amount of oil, it flows out from the oil drain pipe 5.

[0009] Furthermore, the connector 6 is a cuboid structure with an open bottom, which is fixed to the top of the water container 1. The middle of the inner surface of the connector 6 is provided with an "L"-shaped plate structure for fixed connection with the top of the oil container 2.

[0010] Furthermore, the underwater superoleophilic through-hole array on the bottom surface of the oil container 2 has a hole diameter of 0.3mm to 0.4mm and a hole center distance of 1.8mm to 2.7mm.

[0011] Furthermore, the sidewalls of the oil container 2 are made of acrylic; the water container 1 is also made of acrylic. The bottom metal material of the oil container 2 is preferably various engineering metal materials such as aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy.

[0012] Furthermore, the water level 3 inside the water container 1 is 20mm to 30mm; the oil level 4 inside the oil container 2 is 20mm to 30mm.

[0013] Furthermore, the oil drain pipe 5 is a silicone tube.

[0014] Furthermore, the higher the oil level 4 inside the oil container 2, the higher the water level 3 inside the corresponding water container 1.

[0015] Furthermore, the height h of the internal water 3 w The height h of the internal oil 4 o The dimensions of the underwater superoleophilic through-hole array and the annular underwater superoleophilic region are adjusted according to the flow rate of the injected oil-water mixture.

[0016] Furthermore, the underwater superoleophilic via array 7, the underwater superoleophilic annular region 8, and the underwater superoleophobic region 9 are obtained through the following methods:

[0017] The bottom outer surface of the oil container 2 is processed into an underwater superoleophobic surface by laser etching, and an array of staggered underwater superoleophobic through holes is formed. Then, the entire outer surface of the bottom of the oil container 2 is modified with low surface energy to obtain an underwater superoleophilic surface and an underwater superoleophilic through hole array 7. Subsequently, laser etching is performed on the areas other than the annular area around each through hole on the bottom outer surface to obtain an underwater superoleophobic region 9. Finally, the underwater superoleophobic through hole array 7, the underwater superoleophobic annular region 8, and the underwater superoleophobic region 9 are obtained.

[0018] A method of using an ultrafast oil-water separator includes the following:

[0019] Water 3 is injected into water container 1, and oil container 2 is connected to oil drain pipe 5. Oil container 2 and water container 1 are connected by connector 6. Oil 4 is injected into oil container 2, thus forming an ultrafast oil-water separator. The oil-water mixture to be treated is vertically sprayed upwards into the water 3 inside water container 1 onto the outer surface of the bottom of oil container 2. The water in the oil-water mixture mixes with the water 3 inside water container 1, and the oil droplets are captured by the underwater super-oleophilic region on the outer surface of the bottom of oil container 2. Under the combined action of the driving force formed by the Laplace pressure of the oil droplets, the hydrostatic pressure of the water, and the resistance formed by the hydrostatic pressure of the oil, the oil droplets enter oil container 2 through the underwater super-oleophilic through-hole array on the bottom surface. Because the bottom surface of oil container 2 of this ultrafast oil-water separator has an alternating array of holes, the ultrafast oil-water separator can collect oil droplets in the oil-water mixture at a high rate. After the ultrafast oil-water separator has collected a certain amount of oil, the oil flows out from oil drain pipe 5 and is collected.

[0020] Furthermore, the injection flow rate of the oil-water mixture is 20–50 mL / min.

[0021] Compared with existing oil-water separators, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0022] (1) The oil-water separation method proposed in this invention does not rely on gravity or negative pressure to drive the oil through the extremely wettable material. Instead, it utilizes the combined action of the Laplace pressure of the oil droplets, the hydrostatic pressure of the water, and the hydrostatic pressure of the oil to allow the oil droplets to spontaneously, continuously, and rapidly enter the oil container of the oil-water separator.

[0023] (2) The present invention has a high oil droplet penetration rate, which makes the oil-water separation method have high separation efficiency.

[0024] (3) The present invention can adjust the oil-water separation speed by adjusting the oil level in the oil container or the water level in the water container at any time.

[0025] (4) The present invention can adapt to different flow rates of oil-water mixtures by designing the size of the through hole and the center distance of the hole, so as to achieve the best oil-water separation effect. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ultrafast oil-water separator according to the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the outer surface of the bottom of the oil container;

[0028] In the diagram: 1. Water container; 2. Oil container; 3. Water inside; 4. Oil inside; 5. Oil drain pipe; 6. Connector; 7. Underwater superoleophilic hole; 8. Underwater superoleophilic annular region; 9. Underwater superoleophobic region. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] An ultrafast oil-water separator includes a water container 1, an oil container 2, internal water 3, internal oil 4, an oil drain pipe 5, and a connector 6. The water container 1 is a hollow acrylic cuboid structure with an open top, a wall thickness of 5mm, and dimensions of 200mm (length, width, and height). The oil container 2 is a hollow cuboid structure with acrylic sidewalls and a metal bottom, a sidewall thickness of 5mm, and a bottom thickness of 0.3mm. The bottom surface has an array of staggered underwater superoleophilic through-holes with a diameter of 0.3mm and a center-to-center distance of 2.0mm. Furthermore, each hole on the outer surface of the bottom surface is surrounded by an annular underwater superoleophilic... The oil area and the other areas on the bottom outer surface are underwater superoleophobic areas. The bottom surface is 100mm long and 50mm wide, and the height of the oil container 2 is 100mm. The oil drain pipe 5 is a silicone tube and is connected to the oil container 2. Water is injected into the water container 1, and the oil container 2 is fixed inside the water container 1 by the connecting component 6. The bottom surface of the oil container 2 is in the water 3 inside the water container 1. Oil is injected into the oil container 2, thus forming an ultra-fast oil-water separator.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] An ultrafast oil-water separator, such as Figure 1 As shown, the container includes a water container 1, an oil container 2, internal water 3, internal oil 4, an oil drain pipe 5, and connecting components 6. The water container 1 is a hollow acrylic cuboid structure with an open top. The bottom outer surface of the oil container 2 is processed into an underwater superoleophobic surface by laser etching of an aluminum plate, and an array of staggered underwater superoleophobic through holes with a diameter of 0.4 mm and a center-to-center distance of 1.8 mm is formed. Then, the entire outer surface is modified with low surface energy to obtain an underwater superoleophilic surface and through hole array. Subsequently, laser etching is performed on the parts of the bottom outer surface other than the annular area with a diameter of 1.4 mm around each hole, thereby obtaining underwater superoleophobic through holes 7, underwater superoleophobic annular area 8, and underwater superoleophobic area 9. The schematic diagram of the bottom outer surface of the oil container is shown below. Figure 2 As shown. Then, water is poured into the water container 1, and the water level 3 inside the water container 1 is 20mm. The oil container 2 is connected to the oil drain pipe 5, and the oil container 2 is fixed inside the water container 1 with the connecting part 6, and the bottom of the oil container 2 is in the water 3 inside the water container 1. Oil is poured into the oil container 2, and the oil level 4 inside the oil container 2 is 20mm. Thus, an ultra-fast oil-water separator is obtained.

[0033] In the ultrafast oil-water separator, an oil-water mixture with a flow rate of 27.8 mL / min is vertically sprayed upwards into the water 3 inside the water container 1 and onto the outer surface of the bottom of the oil container 2. The sprayed water mixes with the water 3 inside the water container 1, and the sprayed oil droplets are captured by the underwater superoleophilic region on the outer surface of the bottom of the oil container 2. Under the combined action of the driving force composed of the Laplace pressure and the hydrostatic pressure of the water and the resistance composed of the hydrostatic pressure of the oil, the oil droplets enter the oil container 2. Because the bottom surface of the oil container 2 of the ultrafast oil-water separator has an array of staggered holes, the ultrafast oil-water separator can collect oil droplets in the oil-water mixture at a high rate. After the ultrafast oil-water separator collects a certain amount of oil, the oil flows out from the oil drain pipe 5 and is collected. The separation rate under this condition is measured to be 42929.4 L·m. -2 ·h -1 .

[0034] Example 2

[0035] An ultrafast oil-water separator, such as Figure 1 As shown, the container includes a water container 1, an oil container 2, internal water 3, internal oil 4, an oil drain pipe 5, and connecting components 6. The water container 1 is a hollow acrylic cuboid structure with an open top. The bottom outer surface of the oil container 2 is processed by laser etching of an aluminum plate to create an underwater superoleophobic surface and to create an array of staggered underwater superoleophobic through-holes with a diameter of 0.4 mm and a center-to-center distance of 1.8 mm. Then, the entire outer surface is modified with low surface energy to obtain an underwater superoleophilic surface and through-hole array. Subsequently, laser etching is performed on the portion of the bottom outer surface other than the annular area with a diameter of 1.4 mm around each hole, thereby obtaining underwater superoleophobic through-holes 7, underwater superoleophobic annular area 8, and underwater superoleophobic area 9. The schematic diagram of the bottom outer surface of the oil container is shown below. Figure 2 As shown. Then, water is poured into the water container 1, and the water level 3 inside the water container 1 is 20mm. The oil container 2 is connected to the oil drain pipe 5, and the oil container 2 is fixed inside the water container 1 with the connecting part 6, and the bottom of the oil container 2 is in the water 3 inside the water container 1. Oil is poured into the oil container 2, and the oil level 4 inside the oil container 2 is 20mm. Thus, an ultra-fast oil-water separator is obtained.

[0036] An oil-water mixture at a flow rate of 36.8 mL / min was vertically sprayed upwards into the water 3 inside the water container 1 of the obtained ultrafast oil-water separator onto the outer surface of the bottom of the oil container 2. The sprayed water mixed with the water 3 inside the water container 1, and the sprayed oil droplets were captured by the underwater superoleophilic region on the outer surface of the bottom of the oil container 2. Under the combined action of the driving force composed of the Laplace pressure and the hydrostatic pressure of the water and the resistance composed of the hydrostatic pressure of the oil, the oil droplets entered the oil container 2. Because the bottom surface of the oil container 2 of the ultrafast oil-water separator has an array of staggered holes, the ultrafast oil-water separator can collect oil droplets in the oil-water mixture at a high rate. After the ultrafast oil-water separator has collected a certain amount of oil, the oil flows out from the oil drain pipe 5 and is collected. The separation rate under this condition was measured to be 34781.6 L·m. -2 ·h -1 .

[0037] Example 3

[0038] An ultrafast oil-water separator, such as Figure 1 As shown, the container includes a water container 1, an oil container 2, internal water 3, internal oil 4, an oil drain pipe 5, and connecting components 6. The water container 1 is a hollow acrylic cuboid structure with an open top. The bottom outer surface of the oil container 2 is processed by laser etching of an aluminum plate to create an underwater superoleophobic surface and to create an array of staggered underwater superoleophobic through-holes with a diameter of 0.4 mm and a center-to-center distance of 1.8 mm. Then, the entire outer surface is modified with low surface energy to obtain an underwater superoleophilic surface and through-hole array. Subsequently, laser etching is performed on the portion of the bottom outer surface other than the annular area with a diameter of 1.4 mm around each hole, thereby obtaining underwater superoleophobic through-holes 7, underwater superoleophobic annular area 8, and underwater superoleophobic area 9. The schematic diagram of the bottom outer surface of the oil container is shown below. Figure 2 As shown. Then, water is poured into the water container 1, and the water level 3 inside the water container 1 is 20mm. The oil container 2 is connected to the oil drain pipe 5, and the oil container 2 is fixed inside the water container 1 with the connecting part 6, and the bottom of the oil container 2 is in the water 3 inside the water container 1. Oil is poured into the oil container 2, and the oil level 4 inside the oil container 2 is 20mm. Thus, an ultra-fast oil-water separator is obtained.

[0039] An oil-water mixture at a flow rate of 45.9 mL / min was vertically sprayed upwards into the water 3 inside the water container 1 of the obtained ultrafast oil-water separator onto the outer surface of the bottom of the oil container 2. The sprayed water mixed with the water 3 inside the water container 1, and the sprayed oil droplets were captured by the underwater superoleophilic region on the outer surface of the bottom of the oil container 2. Under the combined action of the driving force composed of the Laplace pressure and the hydrostatic pressure of the water and the resistance composed of the hydrostatic pressure of the oil, the oil droplets entered the oil container 2. Because the bottom surface of the oil container 2 of the ultrafast oil-water separator has an array of staggered holes, the ultrafast oil-water separator can collect oil droplets in the oil-water mixture at a high rate. After the ultrafast oil-water separator has collected a certain amount of oil, the oil flows out from the oil drain pipe 5 and is collected. The separation rate under this condition was measured to be 42408.5 L·m. -2 ·h -1 .

[0040] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the implementation methods of the present invention, but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ultrafast oil-water separator, characterized in that, The ultrafast oil-water separator includes a water container (1), an oil container (2), water inside (3), oil inside (4), an oil drain pipe (5), and a connector (6); The water container (1) is a hollow cuboid structure with an open top, which is used to inject water (3) inside and a connector (6) is installed on top of it; the bottom surface of the water container (1) is connected to the external structure and is used to spray the oil-water mixture to be treated vertically upward into the water (3) inside it to the outer surface of the bottom surface of the oil container (2). The oil container (2) is a hollow cuboid structure with an open top. It is pre-filled with oil (4) and used to collect oil from the oil-water mixture to be treated. It is located above the inside of the water container (1). The oil container (2) is fixed inside the water container (1) by a connector (6). The bottom surface of the oil container (2) is below the water surface of the water container (1). The bottom surface is made of metal and has a plurality of staggered underwater superoleophilic through-hole arrays (7), which are composed of multiple through-holes. The outer surface of the bottom of the oil container (2) has an underwater superoleophilic annular region (8) around each through-hole, and the other areas of the outer surface are underwater superoleophobic regions (9). The wall of the oil container (2) is connected to the oil drain pipe (5). When the oil container (2) collects a certain amount of oil, it flows out from the oil drain pipe (5). The underwater superoleophilic through-hole array (7), the underwater superoleophilic annular region (8), and the underwater superoleophobic region (9) are obtained through the following methods: The bottom outer surface of the oil container (2) is processed into an underwater superoleophobic surface by laser etching, and an array of staggered underwater superoleophobic through holes is processed; then the entire outer surface is modified with low surface energy to obtain an underwater superoleophilic surface and an underwater superoleophilic through hole array (7); then the area other than the annular area around each through hole on the bottom outer surface is laser etched to obtain an underwater superoleophobic region (9), and finally the underwater superoleophobic through hole array (7), underwater superoleophobic annular region (8) and underwater superoleophobic region (9) are obtained; The underwater superoleophilic through-hole array (7) on the bottom surface of the oil container (2) has a hole diameter of 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm and a hole center distance of 1.8 mm to 2.7 mm; the outer diameter of the underwater superoleophilic annular region (8) on the outer surface of the bottom surface of the oil container (2) is 1.0 to 1.1 mm larger than the underwater superoleophilic through-hole diameter, and the inner diameter is the underwater superoleophilic through-hole diameter.

2. The ultrafast oil-water separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connector (6) is a cuboid structure with an open bottom, which is fixed to the top of the water container (1). The middle of the inner surface of the connector (6) is provided with an "L"-shaped plate structure for fixed connection with the top of the oil container (2).

3. The ultrafast oil-water separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height of the water (3) pre-filled inside the water container (1) is 20 mm to 30 mm; the height of the oil (4) pre-filled inside the oil container (2) is 20 mm to 30 mm.

4. The ultrafast oil-water separator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The height h of the water (3) inside w The height h of the internal oil (4) o The orifice diameters are adjusted according to the flow rate of the oil-water mixture being injected.

5. A method of using the ultrafast oil-water separator according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, include: Water (3) is injected into the water container (1), the oil container (2) is connected to the oil drain pipe (5), and oil (4) is injected into the oil container (2) to form an ultra-fast oil-water separator. The oil-water mixture to be treated is vertically sprayed upward from the bottom of the water container (1) onto the outer surface of the bottom of the oil container (2). The water in the oil-water mixture merges with the water (3) inside the water container (1). The oil droplets are captured by the underwater super-oleophilic region on the outer surface of the bottom of the oil container (2). Under the combined action of the driving force composed of the Laplace pressure of the oil droplets, the hydrostatic pressure of the water, and the resistance composed of the hydrostatic pressure of the oil, the oil droplets enter the oil container (2) through the underwater super-oleophilic through-hole array on the bottom surface. After the ultra-fast oil-water separator collects a certain amount of oil, the oil flows out from the oil drain pipe (5) and is collected.

6. The method of using the ultrafast oil-water separator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The injection flow rate of the oil-water mixture is 20~50 mL / min.

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