P(SBMA)/SiO₂–Ag⁺ Modified Cotton Fabric for Highly Effective and Antibacterial Oil/Water Separation

ABSTRACT

Superhydrophilic/submerged superoleophobic cotton fabrics with antibacterial properties were obtained by loading SiO₂ nanoparticles and Ag⁺ on the surface of cotton fabrics through SiO₂–Ag⁺ composite sols, followed by the modification of the cotton fabrics with dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) and [2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl‐(3‐sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (SBMA). The surface morphology and wettability of the modified fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG), and contact angle measurement. The underwater contact angle and surface wettability analysis showed that the modified cotton fabric had an underwater oil contact angle of 166.5°. The prepared fabric can be used as an effective medium for the gravity‐driven separation of oil/water mixtures. The modified fabrics showed resistance to sparing of vegetable oils or different organic solvents, and the average separation efficiency was better than 93% for all types of oil/water mixtures and up to 97%. In addition, the modified fabrics successfully inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with excellent antimicrobial properties.