Synthesis of cobalt-phosphorus nano-structures on nickel membranes to separate oil from water

Separation of oil derivatives and contaminants from water is one of the important fields in industry and industrial oil wastewater treatment. Synthesis of nano micro-mineral structures on porous materials is a very effective method to separate petroleum derivatives from water under relatively high temperatures and pressures. In this study, cobalt-phosphorus nanostructures were deposited on nickel foam using a single-step electrochemical method. Then, after cobalt-phosphorus deposition process on nickel foam, two types of diesel oil and edible oil solutions were investigated to separate the oil from the water. In this method, the effect of sodium hypophosphite concentration and application of pulse voltages on the electrolyte was investigated. Different concentrations of sodium hypophosphite were created in the amount of 100 mM, 300 mM, 500 mM and without sodium hypophosphite in the electrolyte solution. It was then coated on nickel foam. The morphology and identification of the coatings were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-Ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern, atomic emission spectroscopy and contact angle. Next, the performance of oil separation from water was investigated using weight separation efficiency and oil contact angle.