Facile Preparation of Fluoroalkyl End-Capped Vinyltrimethoxysilane Oligomer/Sand Composites Possessing Superoleophilic/Superhydrophobic Characteristic: Application to Oil/Water Separation and Selective Removal of Fluorinated Aromatic Compounds from Aqueous Methanol Solution

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [RF-(CH2-CHSi(OMe)3)n-RF: n = 2, 3, RF CF(CF3)OC3F7: RF-(VM)n-RF], was applied to the facile preparation of corresponding oligomer/sand (Ottawa sand: OS) composites [RF-(VM-SiO3/2)n-RF/OS] through sol-gel reaction in presence micro-sized OS particles (590 - 840 μm) under alkaline conditions at room temperature. FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Micrograph) images showed that obtained consist RF-(VM-SiO3/2)n-RF oligomeric nanoparticles and particles. Interestingly, RF-(VM-SiO3/2)n-RF/OS thus can provide superoleophilic/superhydrophobic characteristic on composite surface, applying separation not only mixture oil/water but also W/O emulsion isolate transparent colorless oil. The fluorinated were found be applicable selective removal aromatic compounds from an aqueous methanol solution. Especially, it demonstrated supply a higher efficient smooth ability for oil water than controlled silica gel (μ-SiO2) (average particle size: 9.5 μm), which prepared similar conditions. In addition oil/water, provided more solutions μ-SiO2 composites.