Hydrophobic modification of polyurethane foam for oil spill cleanup

► The PU foams were grafted or coated with polymer for oil spill cleanup. ► The modification decreased water sorption capacity by 24–50%. ► In pure oil phase the oil sorption by modified PU cubes increased 18–27%. ► In water–oil system, the oil sorption by modified PU cubes increased 7–100%. To improve the oleophilic/hydrophobic properties of polyurethane (PU) foams for oil spill cleanup, PU samples were modified by grafting with oleophilic monomer Lauryl methacrylate (LMA) in solvent and/or coating with LMA microspheres through heating and curing. Modified PU cubes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The water sorption of modified PU cubes was decreased by 24–50%, while the diesel or kerosene sorption of modified PU cubes was increased by 18–27%. In water–oil system, compared with blank PU cubes, the sorption capacity of PU cubes grafted with LMA was increased by 44% for diesel and 100% for kerosene. The sorption capacity of PU cubes coated with LMA microspheres was increased by 20% for diesel and 7% for kerosene. The solvent sorption of modified PU cubes could reach 50–69g/g. The modified PU cubes can be effectively used in oil/solvent spill cleanup.