Zinc imidazolate framework-8 nanoparticle application in oil removal from oil/water emulsion and reuse

Water pollution is one of the biggest problems in the world and treatment is very important. ZIF-8 is a promising nanomaterial for water treatment. In this study, zinc imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles were prepared via a solvothermal method. The synthesized were characterized by using several techniques and applied in emulsified oil/water separation and reuse. A combination of techniques (XRD, BET, SEM) showed that the crystalline phase of the ZIF-8 was successfully obtained by the solvothermal method. ZIF-8 exhibits a high surface area of 1146 m²/g and an average nanoparticle size 47 ± 4.6 nm. ZIF-8 exhibits a very high adsorption capacity reached 2811.1 mg/g and it was regenerated by the ethanol-washing method. The process of regeneration of ZIF-8 has proved to be efficient. ZIF-8 was regenerated by a simple ethanol-washing method; the regenerated ZIF-8 exhibited more than 98% of regeneration efficiency over three cycles.