A compressible porous superhydrophobic material constructed by a multi-template high internal phase emulsion method for oil–water separation

Superhydrophobic porous materials exhibit remarkable stability and exceptional efficacy in combating marine oil spills and containing oily water discharges. This work employed the multi-template high internal phase emulsion method to fabricate a multi-template porous superhydrophobic foam (MTPSF). The materials were characterized through SEM, IR spectroscopy, contact angle measurement, and an electronic universal testing machine. Moreover, the materials' oil–water separation capability, reusability, and compressibility were thoroughly evaluated. The obtained results demonstrate that the material displays a water contact angle of 143° and an oil contact angle of approximately 0°, thus exhibiting superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties. Consequently, it effectively facilitates the separation of oil slicks and heavy oil underwater. Furthermore, the MTPSF conforms to the second kinetic and Webber–Morris models concerning the oil absorption process. MTPSF exhibits an outstanding oil absorption capacity, ranging from 39.40 to 102.32 g g(−1), while showcasing reliable reusability, high recovery efficiency, and excellent compressibility of up to 55%. The above exceptional attributes render the MTPSF highly suitable for oil–water separation applications.