Magnetic recyclable carbon nanotubes and its demulsification performance in oily wastewater

In current study, a magnetic recyclable carbon nanotube demulsifier (CNTs/Fe3O4) was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope, and vibrating samples magnetometer. The demulsification efficiency in oily wastewater reached 99.6% under optimal conditions and the total organic carbon of the separated water was reduced to 32.8 mg/L. Moreover, the recyclability test indicated that CNTs/Fe3O4 could be reused four times without significant reduction in light transmittance. Furthermore, the possible demulsification mechanism was also proposed. As a promising magnetic material with interfacial activity and recyclability, CNTs/Fe3O4 demonstrated a promising application to separate crude oil from oily wastewater.