Silicone sponges have emerged as promising candidates in environmental applications due to their unique combination of mechanical robustness, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. However, their widespread use has been hindered by poor wettability and limited functionality in complex aqueous environments. This study reports the development of a high-performance 3D super-amphiphilic silicone sponge fabricated through a thiol-ene click reaction, enabling simultaneous and efficient removal of diverse pollutants including oils, emulsions, heavy metals (Hg²⁺), cationic dyes, and suspended solids. The material’s exceptional performance stems from its hierarchical porous architecture and tailored surface chemistry.
The fabrication process begins with the formation of macroporous silicone sponges via cryo-polymerization of polymethylvinylsiloxane (PDViMS) and 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT) at -10 °C in frozen cyclohexane, which acts as both solvent and pore-forming agent. Subsequent modification with hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG-7) via thiol-ene coupling dramatically enhances surface hydrophilicity, resulting in super-amphiphilic behavior—water and oil contact angles approach 0°. This enables rapid, spontaneous uptake of both polar and nonpolar liquids without phase separation.
The modified sponge (SS2-PEG) exhibits outstanding adsorption capacity for Hg²⁺, reaching 941.3 mg g⁻¹ under optimal conditions. Adsorption kinetics follow pseudo-second-order models, confirming chemisorption, while equilibrium data fit well with the Langmuir isotherm (R² = 0.9928). XPS analysis reveals clear binding signals at 104.9 eV (Hg 4f₅/₂) and a positive shift in S 2p peak, indicating strong coordination between Hg²⁺ and sulfur atoms. The sorbent maintains >99% removal efficiency across pH 1–6 and shows negligible interference from common coexisting ions, demonstrating excellent selectivity.
For cationic dyes such as rhodamine B, methylene blue, and crystal violet, the sponge achieves maximum capacities of up to 71.Gastrin Antibody Autophagy 01 mg g⁻¹.PDGFA Antibody custom synthesis The negative surface charge facilitates electrostatic attraction to positively charged dye molecules.PMID:35235093 Adsorption is fast and reversible, allowing multiple reuse cycles with minimal loss in performance. Notably, the sponge effectively captures dyes even from oil-in-water emulsions and organic solvents, highlighting its versatility.
In practical filtration systems, the sponge functions as a highly effective filter element. When used to treat Hg²⁺ solutions (63.2 ppm), the filtrate concentration drops below 1.33 ppb after two rounds of filtration—well within safe drinking water limits. For dye-laden wastewater, the filtrate becomes colorless and UV spectra show no residual absorption, confirming complete removal. After simple washing with thiourea/HNO₃ solution, the sponge regains full adsorption capacity, demonstrating excellent reusability.
Real-world tests on industrial wastewater from Yantai confirmed the sponge’s effectiveness: mercury levels dropped from 61 ppb to 0.07 ppb, and turbidity was fully eliminated. Similarly, artificial wastewater containing mixed dyes was successfully purified. These results highlight the sponge’s potential for large-scale environmental remediation.
This work establishes a scalable, sustainable strategy for designing multifunctional porous materials capable of addressing complex pollution challenges. The integration of high porosity, super-amphiphilicity, and chemical tunability makes this 3D silicone sponge a transformative tool for water purification and waste management.MedChemExpress (MCE) offers a wide range of high-quality research chemicals and biochemicals (novel life-science reagents, reference compounds and natural compounds) for scientific use. We have professionally experienced and friendly staff to meet your needs. We are a competent and trustworthy partner for your research and scientific projects.Related websites: https://www.medchemexpress.com
