Biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) nanoparticle-based binary blends for oil spill control

In the current study, biocompatible and biodegradable blends based on poly(vinyl alcohol) nanoparticles – PVAn mixed with either chitosan (Ch) or starch (St) – were prepared and investigated as nanoabsorbents for oil elimination from wastewater. The use of water/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a mixed solvent is the key factor for preparing aggregated PVAn, which is further mixed with Ch or St. Nanoblends were applied as oil absorbents, and the results showed that PVAn/St possess high adsorption capacity than PVAn/Ch and PVAn. The maximum sorption capacities (qg/g) of the PVAn/Ch sorbents for hydraulic oil, kerosene, and toluene were 33.6, 73.96, and 93.1g/g, respectively. The absorbed oil could be rapidly recovered by simple mechanical squeezing and reused without any other modification. The blends showed excellent reusability and could be reused for at least 10 times with minimal losses. The current study demonstrates the application of these blends as an ideal alternative sorbent for oil spillage cleanup. •PVAn synthesized through surfactant free emulsion polymerization.•PVAn binary blended with Ch or St to obtain nanoblends.•Oil absorption capacities were 33.6, 73.96, 93.1g/g for PVAn, PVAn/Ch and PVAn/St respectively.•Hydrophobic nature of nanoblends surface are mainly absorbed oil rather than water.