Recyclable Smart Mesh for Efficient Oil-Water Separation
Recyclable Smart Mesh for On Demand Separation of Oily Water
Tags: IIT Delhi, India, Industrial Automation & Manufacturing, Energy & Environment
A recyclable, nanostructured smart surface mesh has been developed for efficient oil-water separation. It consists of a stainless steel mesh coated with ZnO nanowires, which exhibit reversible superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic properties. The mesh operates in both “water-removing” and “oil-removing” modes, allowing gravity-driven separation without additional energy input. It achieves 99.9% filtration efficiency and remains effective for over 10 cycles. Applications include oily wastewater treatment in metallurgical and petroleum refineries.
IP Type or Form Factor: Patent Granted; Material
TRL: 4 - minimum viable product built in lab
Industry or Tech Area: Purification & Separation; Wastewater Treatment
