Superhydrophobic magnetic melamine sponge modified by flowerlike ZnO and stearic acid using dip coating method for oil and water separation

The increasing occurrence of oil spills and industrial effluents containing oil have heightened the need for effective oil-water separation. This study developed a magnetic superhydrophobic melamine sponge using a dip-coating method with ZnO, stearic acid, and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Characterization via XRD, FESEM, EDX, FT-IR, AFM, VSM, and water contact angle measurements (160.96˚ ± 0.65˚) revealed its excellent properties. The sponge demonstrated a sorption capacity of 36.12 ± 1.9 to 83.71 ± 2.8 g·g^-1 and separation efficiency ranging from 97.82 ± 1.3 to 99.83 ± 1.7%. Its performance in removing oil from real industrial effluent was also evaluated. Additionally, the sponge exhibited reusability and high efficiency in separating emulsified oil droplets. These results highlight the potential of the modified sponge as an effective sorbent for oily wastewater treatment.