Comparative analysis among coating methods of flexible polyurethane foams with graphene oxide

The growth in the exploration of petroleum and the transportation of this and its derivatives in marine environments increased the concern with potential environmental disasters caused by accidents of oil spillage. With this, several materials are being studied to minimize these environmental impacts. In this study, facile and inexpensive methods of coating polyurethane foams with graphene oxide to produce reusable sorbents with hydrophobic and oleophilic characteristics were evaluated. To compare the coating methods of the sorbent foams produced in suspensions of graphene oxide in ethanol and in petroleum ether, density, morphology, sorption capacity, selectivity, contact angle and reusability tests were performed. The main results indicate higher homogeneity in the coating produced in petroleum ether suspension than in ethanol, but the sorption capacity in both sorbents was similar, about 60 g·g−1. In addition, developed sorbents also presented selectivity to apolar solvents and also fluctuating capacity.