Grantee Research Project Results
2019 Progress Report: A Novel 2D MoS2 Sponge Oil-Water Separator (MDSOS)
EPA Grant Number: SV839489Title: A Novel 2D MoS2 Sponge Oil-Water Separator (MDSOS)
Investigators: Lee, Woo Hyoung , Hwang, Jae-Hoon , Jung, Yeonwoong , Rodriguez, Kelsey , Watson-Bajorek, Amaya , Morillo, Lody , Yoo, Changheyon
Current Investigators: Lee, Woo Hyoung , Hwang, Jae-Hoon , Jung, Yeonwoong
Institution: University of Central Florida
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2019 through April 11, 2020 (Extended to March 31, 2022)
Project Period Covered by this Report: April 1, 2019 through March 31,2020
Project Amount: $75,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2019) Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Awards
Objective:
This project seeks to develop a novel superhydrophobic and superoleophilic 2D MoS2-embedded microporous membrane system for sustainable oil water separation. Since oil can be extremely detrimental to both the environment and people, it is crucial to preserve the surrounding environment after an oil spill occurs. Current methods of oil spill remediation typically fall under three categories: burning, skimming, and the use of chemical dispersants. However, each of these current methods has been severely limited in overall sustainability. They are notorious for potential by-products formation, application only during very specific environmental conditions, or having minimal oil recovery potential. The current P3 Phase II project primarily focused on optimizing the novel MoS2 sponge technology for scaling towards real field application. This technology proposes to curb water pollution by creating an oil-water separator which soaks up oil but repels water, leaving behind no toxic by-product.The objectives of the Phase II project are to 1) improve oil-separation proficiency by optimizing sponge porosity; 2) develop the self-floating oil spill detecting sensor, which stems from the intrinsic oil-water separation capability of the MoS2-PDMS sponges as well as their excellent conductivity for electrical sensing; 3) employ the technology towards real application such as by remediating crude oil and scaling up MDSOS for oil separation in the field; 4) investigate an environmental and economic life cycle assessment; and 5) establish an operator guideline for the oil-collection system. This project will also allow graduate and undergraduate students to design technical solutions to current sustainability challenges.
Progress Summary:
Results from this project displayed significant improvements of sponge porosity using the 3D printer. Phase II (1st year) research found that 1) temperature affects oil’s viscosity when using crude oil and 3) the optimized porosity of sponge fabrication was successful and decreased oil’s viscosity by heat transfer via surface contact of MDSOS conditioned under solar light. Specifically, through this award, we achieved outreach activities that include NSF’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps). We had over 100 interviews with employers relative to the field of oil spill management, such as oil spill response organization (OSROs) directors and marine technicians. This information will help to analyze the economic life cycle assessment for field application. The sustainable aspects of this project come from its specific and careful consideration of the people, prosperity, and planet. MDSOS system can prevent further contamination of aquatic bodies that directly impact community health. These considerations focusing on people, prosperity, and planet contribute to the advancement of global sustainability practices that will ensure the protection and conservation of natural resources for generations to come in a rapidly developing world.
Future Activities:
We expect that the MDSOS system will eliminate the use of foreign contaminants in treating oil spills, reduce the financial cost of oil spill cleanups, reinvent oil-water separation and recovery methods, and advance the vision of sustainable resource practices. Through the objectives outlined in Phase II (1st year), we have demonstrated that the novel MDSOS system is effective in changing crude oils viscosity from sticky to liquid for oil-water separation under solar light parameters. In addition, optimization of the MoS2 sponge fabrication by 3D printer can lead to enhancement of its constant porosity and surface area, and an increase in its oil absorption capacity while maintaining oil absorption ability. Going forward with this project, its progress in material fabrication and concern of environmental parameters will allow for field application providing research in fields such as for commercial use or private sector use.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 10 publications | 2 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
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Ko TJ, Hwang JH, Davis D, Shawkat MS, Han SS, Rodriguez KL, Oh KH, Lee WH, Jung Y. Superhydrophobic MoS2-based multifunctional sponge for recovery and detection of spilled oil. Current Applied Physics 2020;20(2):344-51. |
SV839489 (2019) SV839489 (2020) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Bioremediation, Florida, green technology, global resource, molybdenum disulfide, ocean, ocean remediation, oil, oil recovery, oil-water separation, oil spills, oil spill cleanup, Orlando, STEM, sustainability, water, wastewaterProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
A Novel 2D MoS2 Sponge Oil-Water Separator (MDSOS) | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.