Amine-functionalized cotton for the treatment of oily wastewater

Common commercial demulsifiers are typically made from ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. The production process is dangerous and complex, with poor adaptability and high cost. In this work, cotton modified with polyethylene polyamine was utilized as a demulsifier for the treatment of oily wastewater. The chemical structure and morphology of the as-prepared sample (CPN) were characterized by IR spectrum and SEM. The effect of CPN dosage, pH value, and salinity on the demulsification performance of oily wastewater was explored through the bottle tests. The results showed that the light transmittance of separated water was 81.7% and the corresponding deoiling rate was 98.5% when a CPN dosage of 25 mg/L was used at room temperature for 30 min. The interfacial properties were also systematically investigated, and the results indicated that CPN had better interfacial activity and a stronger reduction capability of interfacial tension compared to asphaltenes. The finding initiated and accelerated the demulsification process of oily wastewater. Based on the outstanding performance of this biomass-derived demulsifier, it shows promising potential for application in the treatment of oily wastewater.