Bioinspired and Natural Materials for Oil/Water Separation

Water is the essential and prime resource of humans and animals for the survival on earth. Water contamination is detrimental and unwelcome, since it causes diseases, carcinogenicity, and disturbs the environmental stability. It is projected that over 15% global inhabitants live in water sparse areas, and each year 2 to 2.5 million persons die due to the water pollution. The marine oil-seepages and solvent discharge in the environment cause severe loss to marine life, disrupts the eco-balance, and destroys the soil fertility. It is reported that around 5 trillion polymeric wastes weighing more than 250 million tons is hovering in oceans. Thus, considering the environmental hazards, researchers have been lately exploring the biobased and bioinspired materials for oil-water treatment. These materials are widely used for environmental applications owing to their outstanding biocompatibility, non-carcinogenicity, biodegradable nature, stable thermal (150-300°C), and mechanical properties. In this regard, following book chapter discusses various biobased and bioinspired materials explored by the researchers for water treatment application like oil/solvent water reclamation. The chapter further discusses their properties, and synthesis routes required for the effective oil/solvent-water segregation. Towards the end of the book chapter, the authors have discussed the working principle, and wetting theories of Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter for the oil/solvent segregation, outlook, challenges, and future perspective.