Superoleophilic and high‐strength electrospun membranes are promising materials for oil/water separation applications. Here we report the fabrication of a mechanically robust, hydrophobic polyurethane/multi‐walled carbon nanotube (PU/MWCNT) electrospun composite membrane for gravity‐driven oil/water separation. Various electrospun composite membranes with different MWCNT loadings were developed. Spinning parameters such as polymer concentration, solvent ratio, applied voltage, flow rate, and working distance were systematically optimized. The incorporation of MWCNT has increased the thermal stability, hydrophobicity, mechanical properties, and dye adsorption capacity of the PU membrane. The optimized composite fibrous membrane (PU/0.2‐MWCNT) exhibited a percentage elongation of 502%. All the PU/MWCNT composite membranes were found to be superoleophilic in nature. The optimized composite membrane showed the highest oil sorption capacity and lab‐scale oil flux of 14.21–24.07 gg−1 and 425.44 Lm−2 h−1, respectively. In the oil sorption process, all electrospun membranes were fitted to a pseudo second‐order kinetic model. Furthermore, electrospun composite membranes could adsorb toxic dye (Methylene blue) from the oil–water mixture. The PU/MWCNT composite membrane could be a potential candidate for oil/water separation applications.

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Low density polyethylene‐g‐maleic anhydride‐g‐starch nanoparticle (LMNS) biocomposites have been synthesized in water medium. LMNS biocomposites were fabricated with different starch nanoparticle (NS) loadings (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt%) by compression molding technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed ester linkage between maleic anhydride grafted low density polyethylene (LM) and NS, thereby confirming the improved compatibility of the biocomposites. Thermal analysis confirmed the chemical linkage of NS on LM chains. The wettability and surface roughness characteristics of biocomposites were evaluated by water sorption, static contact angle, and atomic force microscopy. Water sorption was improved due to the increase of NS content in samples, whereas the water contact angle and surface roughness were diminished. The load at maximum, tensile strength and percentage of elongation at break for the biocomposites were enhanced with the increase in NS content. The morphology analysis of samples revealed homogenous distribution and good interfacial adhesion. The biodegradation enhancement of samples has been revealed by fungal and soil burial tests. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E426–E440, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers

A robust antifouling membrane with pollutant-removing capacity is in high demand for industrial wastewater treatment. Here, we report a new multifunctional polyurethane/montmorillonite-oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotube (PU/MMT) nanofibrous composite membrane, beneficial for both water filtra-

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