Efficient demulsification of ultralow-concentration crude oil-in-water emulsion by three-dimensional superhydrophilic channels

Efficient extraction of crude oil, the major energy resource current concern and high demand worldwide, is paramount importance in both environmental fields. However, it remains a great challenge to separate oil-in-water emulsions with an ultralow oil content <200ppm. Here, three-dimensional superwetting channels are developed by coating titanium foams anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays. The render superhydrophilic underwater superoleophobic feature, which enables rapid formation water that expel droplets. A separation efficiency ∼96.8% low total organic carbon ∼6 ppm thus achieved for ultralow-concentration emulsions. pressure time dependence process systematically studied critical 12.25 kPa. Such performance close theoretical limit imposed concentration, shows obvious advances over either membranes or inorganic frameworks.