Facile Preparation of Fluoroalkyl End-Capped Vinyltrimethoxysilane Oligomer/Sand Composites Possessing Superoleophilic/Superhydrophobic Characteristic: Application to Oil/Water Separation and Selective Removal of Fluorinated Aromatic Compounds from Aqueous Methanol Solution

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F-(CH₂-CHSi(OMe)₃)_n-R_F: n = 2, 3, R_F = CF(CF₃)OC₃F₇: R_F-(VM)_n-R_F] , was applied to the facile preparation of the corresponding oligomer/sand (Ottawa sand: OS) composites [R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS] through the sol-gel reaction of the oligomer in the presence of micro-sized OS particles (590 - 840 μm) under alkaline conditions at room temperature. FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Micrograph) images showed that the obtained composites consist of the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F oligomeric nanoparticles and the micro-sized OS particles. Interestingly, the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites thus obtained can provide the superoleophilic/superhydrophobic characteristic on the composite surface, applying to the separation of not only the mixture of oil/water but also the W/O emulsion to isolate the transparent colorless oil. The fluorinated oligomeric OS composites were also found to be applicable to the selective removal of fluorinated aromatic compounds from an aqueous methanol solution. Especially, it was demonstrated that the fluorinated OS composites can supply a higher efficient and smooth separation ability for the separation of the mixture of oil and water than that of the corresponding fluorinated micro-sized controlled silica gel (μ-SiO₂) composites (average particle size: 9.5 μm), which were prepared under similar conditions. In addition to the separation of oil/water, the fluorinated OS composites provided higher and more selective removal ability for the fluorinated aromatic compounds from aqueous solutions than that of the μ-SiO₂ composites.

• Fluorinated Oligomeric Composite
• Micro-Sized Ottawa Sand Particle
• Superoleophilic/Superhydrophobic Property
• Smooth Separation of Oil and Water
• Selective Removal of Fluorinated Aromatic Compound

1. Introduction

Due to the serious problems related to oil spill accidents in the environment induced by the disasters in living systems and a growing body of occurrence of industrial oily wastewater, oil/water separation has been the subject of practical research of the world [1] [2] [3] [4]. In fact, there has been a large volume of reports on the development of the functional materials with superhydropho- bic/superoleophilic surfaces to separate the mixture of oil and water [5] [6] [7] [8]. From the practical point of view, it is of particular importance to fabricate the low-cost materials possessing higher efficiency and fast separation ability of oil/water. It is well-known that micro-sized silica gel particles can supply a wide range of practical use such as adsorbents and the packing material for column chromatography. Thus, the practical application of micro-size silica gels to the superhydrophobic/superoleophilic composites is of great significance owing to the development of novel materials for the separation of oil and water, because silica gels are in general low-cost popular materials. In fact, we have recently reported on the preparation of the fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomeric micro-sized silica gel composite particles possessing superoleophilic/supeherhydrophobic characteristic to separate the mixture of oil and water [9].

In addition to the serious problems in increasing environmental pollution related to the oil spill into the ocean as indicated above, a large volume of fluorinated drugs and pesticides have recently come to the market, and made up about 20% of the pharmaceuticals and over 30% of all agrochemicals, respectively [10] - [15]. Therefore, it is deeply desirable to develop the practical removal technologies of not only the oils but also the fluorinated organic micropollutants including their raw materials and intermediates from industrial wastewater. The main component of sand is silicon dioxide, quite similar to that of the silica gel, and sand is also an abundant natural resource. Therefore, the sand should become a good candidate for novel composite materials for the practical removal of oil from wastewater, due to its low cost and nontoxicity to the environment, excellent chemical and physical stability. In fact, attractive attention has been recently focused on the sand composites possessing superhydrophobic characteristic, which can be fabricated by the reactions of 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3-hexamethyldisilazane [16], 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane [17], 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltrietho- xysilane [18], octadecyltrichlorosilane [19] [20], and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane [21] [22] with the corresponding sands.

During a growing body of our studies on the two fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers [R_F-(M)_n-R_F; R_F = fluoroalkyl group; M: radical polymerizable monomers] [23] [24] [25], we have already reported that two fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F-(CH₂CHSi(OMe)₃)_n-R_F, n = 2, 3: R_F-(VM)_n-R_F] can form the nanometer-sized controlled self-assembled molecular aggregates in organic media such as methanol through the aggregation of terminal fluoroalkyl groups [26]. These fluorinated aggregates interact with a variety of guest molecules [Guest] such as gold nanoparticles, hydroxyapatite, zinc oxide and titanium oxide to provide the corresponding fluorinated oligomeric silica/Guest nanocom- posites [R_F-(CH₂CHSiO_3/2)_n-R_F/Guest] possessing not only a surface-active property imparted by fluorine but also a unique characteristic related to each Guest molecule [26]. Therefore, it is of practical interest to prepare the sand composites by the use of the R_F-(VM)_n-R_F oligomer as a key intermediate. Herein we report on the preparation of fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer/sand composites [R_F-(CH₂CHSiO_3/2)_n-R_F/sand] by the sol-gel reaction of the corresponding oligomer [R_F-(VM)_n-R_F] in the presence of sand particles under alkaline conditions. In addition, we would like to demonstrate on the application of the R_F- (CH₂CHSiO_3/2)_n-R_F/sand composites to the separation of oil and water including the selective removal of fluorinated aromatic compounds from an aqueous methanol solution. These findings will be described in this article.

2. Experimental

2.1. Measurements

Micrometer size-controlled silica gel composite particles were analyzed by using laser diffraction particle size analyzer: Shimadzu SALD-200 V (Kyoto, Japan). Molecular weight of R_F-(VM)_n-R_F oligomer was measured by using a Shodex DS-4 (pump, Tokyo, Japan) and Shodex RI-71 (detector) gel permeation chromatography calibrated with polystyrene standard using teterahydrofuran as the eluent. Thermal analyses were recorded by raising the temperature around 800˚C (the heating rate: 10˚C/min) under atmospheric conditions by the use of Bruker axs TG-DTA2000SA differential thermobalance (Kanagawa, Japan). The contact angles were measured by the use of Kyowa Interface Science Drop Master 300 (Saitama, Japan). Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra were measured using Shimadzu UV-1600 UV-vis spectrophotometer (Kyoto, Japan). Field emission scanning electron micrograph (FE-SEM) was recorded by using JEOL JSM-7000F (Tokyo, Japan). Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra were obtained using JEOL JSM-7000F (Tokyo, Japan). Aluminum crucible (40 mL: Material No: 27311) was purchased from Mettler-Toledo Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). Ultrasonic irradiation was used by As One Ultrasonic Cleaner US-3R (Tokyo, Japan). Optical and fluorescence microscopies were measured by using OLYMPUS Corporation BX51 (Tokyo, Japan).

2.2. Materials

Vinyltrimethoxysilane was used as received from Dow Corning Toray Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). Sand (Ottawa sand: OS, average particle size: 590 - 840 μm) was received from Restek Corporation (PA, USA). Micro-sized silica particles (Wako- gel^TR C-500HG: average particle size: 14 μm) and Acid Blue 112 were supplied from FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Industries (Osaka, Japan) and Chugaikasei Co., Ltd. (Fukushima, Japan), respectively. Dodecane, 1,2-dichloroethane, Span 80, 4, 4’-bisphenol, octafluoro-4, 4’-biphenol, acetophenone, 2’, 3’, 4’, 5’, 6’-penta- fluoroacetophenone, and trans-cinnamic acid were all received from Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). Trans-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorocinnamic acid was purchased from Synquest Laboratories (FL, USA). Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F-(CH₂-CHSi(OMe)₃)_n-R_F: the mixture of dimer and trimer; R_F = CF(CF₃)OC₃F₇ (R_F-(VM)_n-R_F); Mn = 780] was synthesized by reaction of fluoroalkanoyl peroxide with the corresponding monomer according to our previously reported method [27]. Solid-phase extraction cartridge connected with the polyethylene frit [Type Mini (0.1 mL)] was supplied by Tomoe-Works Co., Ltd. (Amagasaki, Japan).

2.3. Preparation of Fluoroalkyl End-Capped Vinyltrimethoxysilane Oligomer/Ottawa Sand (OS) Composites [R F -(VM-SiO 3/2 ) n -R F /OS]

A typical procedure for the facile preparation of R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites is as follows: To methanol solution (5 mL) containing fluoroalkyl end- capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F-(VM)_n-R_F] (50 mg) was added OS particles (150 mg). The mixture was stirred with a magnetic stirring bar at room temperature for 10 min. 25% aqueous ammonia solution (2.0 ml) was added to the methanol solution, and was successively stirred at room temperature for 5 hrs. After the solvent was evaporated off, the obtained product was dried under vacuum at 50˚C for 1 day to produce the expected fluorinated composite white colored powders (166 mg). Other composites were prepared under similar conditions. The results are demonstrated in Scheme 1 and Table 1. R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n- R_F/μ-SiO₂ composites were also prepared by using micro-sized silica particles (μ-SiO₂: average particle size: 14 μm) under similar conditions, for comparison (see Scheme 2).

2.4. Contact Angle Measurements of Dodecane and Water on the R F -(VM-SiO 3/2 ) n -R F /OS composite Powders Surface

The R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composite powders (2 mg) were added into the aluminum crucible (volume: 40 μL). The contact angles of dodecane and water were measured by the deposit of each droplet (2 μL) on the composite powders surface at room temperature. The contact angle measurements of dodecane and water on the other composite powders were conducted under the similar conditions.

2.5. Preparation of the Surfactant-Stabilized Water-in-Oil (1,2-Dichloroethane) Emulsion

The surfactant (span 80:30 mg) was added into the mixture of water (0.05 mL) and 1,2-dichloroethane (5.0 mL). The expected white-colored W/O emulsion was easily prepared through the ultrasonic irradiation of the obtained mixture for 5 min at room temperature.

2.6. Removal of 2’, 3’, 4’, 5’, 6’-Pentafluoroacetophenone (PFAP) in Aqueous Methanol Solution by Using the R F -(CH 2 CHSiO 3/2 ) n -R F /OS Composite Powders

Solid-phase extraction cartridge connected with the polyethylene frit packed with the R_F-(CH₂CHSiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composite powders (10 mg: Run 1 in Table 1) was used for the removal of PFAP. 5 mL of aqueous methanol solution [H₂O/MeOH: 94/6 (vol/vol)] containing PFAP (30 mg/dm³) was applied to the cartridge, and the obtained eluent was analyzed by UV-vis spectra measurements to detect the residual PFAP. The residual amounts of other organic compounds were also analyzed under similar conditions. The results are summarized following.

3. Results and Discussion

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F-(VM)_n-R_F] was found to undergo the sol-gel reaction in the presence of Ottawa sand (OS) particles under alkaline conditions at room temperature, providing the corresponding fluorinated oligomeric silica/OS composites. The results are depicted in Scheme 1 and Table 1.

Scheme 1 and Table 1 show that the expected composites can be easily obtained through the sol-gel reaction under alkaline conditions in good isolated yields: 64% - 97%. The content of each oligomer in the composites in Table 1 was determined by using the thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), in which the weight loss of the composites was measured by raising the temperature around 800˚C at a 10˚C/min heating rate under air atmospheric conditions, and the results are also demonstrated in Table 1. TGA curves of some composites in Table 1 are illustrated in Figure 1. The pristine OS powders and the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F oligomeric nanoparticles [28], which were prepared by the sol-gel reaction of the corresponding oligomer under alkaline conditions, are also shown in Figure 1, for comparison.

As shown in Table 1 and Figure 1, the contents of oligomers were estimated

Table 1

Preparation of R F -(VM-SiO 3/2 ) n -R F /OS composites

Run	RF-(VM)n-RF (mg)	OS (mg)	Yield (%)*	Content of oligomer in the composites (%)**
1	50	10	64	66
2	50	50	82	39
3	50	75	84	44
4	50	100	89	39
5	50	150	83	12
6	50	200	93	26
7	50	250	94	24
8	50	300	93	9
9	50	400	95	15
10	50	500	95	5
11	50	600	97	18
12	50	700	97	7

*Yield was based on oligomer and OS; **Content of oligomer in each composite was determined by using the weight loss value at 800˚C of the composites and the R_F-(VM- SiO_3/2)_n-R_F oligomeric nanoparticles

to be 5% - 66% by the use of the TGA measurements. The contents of oligomers in the composites were found to decrease from 66% to 5% or 7% with increasing the feed amounts of OS particles from 10 to 500 or 700 mg, suggesting that the sol-gel reactions in Scheme 1 should proceed smoothly to provide the expected composites.

FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Micrograph) photographs of the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites (Run 5 in Table 1) have been recorded to clarify the formation of the composites, and the results are shown in Figure 2. FE-SEM picture of the pristine OS particles has been also illustrated in Figure 2, for comparison.

We can observe not only the uniformly coated-fluorinated oligomeric nanoparticles [R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F] on the OS particle surface but also the dispersed oligomeric nanoparticles near the OS particles (see Figure 2(B)). EDX (Energy Dispersive X-Ray) analyses measurements of the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites (Run 5 in Table 1) also reveal that the atomic contents of silicon, fluorine and carbon are as follows (see Table 2).

The decrease of the contents of silicon from 44% to 14% in the composites, and the contents of fluorine (35%) and carbon (30%) indicate the presence of the fluorinated oligomer in the composites. The presence of Al in the original OS particles is due to the impurities in the particles. EDX mapping micrographs on the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites (Run 5 in Table 1) and the pristine OS particles show that fluorine (blue-colored area) and carbon (red-colored area) related to the fluorinated oligomer are uniformly dispersed on the OS particle surface and around OS particles (see Figure 3).

We tried to study on the surface wettability of the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS

Table 2

The atomic contents of silicon, fluorine and carbon of the R F -(VM-SiO 3/2 ) n -R F /OS composites (Run 5 in Table 1 ), and the pristine OS particles

	Atomic contents (atm, %)
	Si	F	C	Al
Pristine OS particles	44	0.0	0.0	1.0
RF-(VM-SiO3/2)n-RF/OS composites	14	35	30	0.0

composites powders: Runs 1-12 in Table 1 and the pristine OS particles through the dodecane and water contact angle measurements. The results are revealed as followings:

Dodecane and water contact angle values of the pristine OS particles are 0 degree, respectively; however, each R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composite powder (Runs 1 ~ 12 in Table 1) can exhibit a superoleophilic/superhydrophobic characteristic on its surface, because a dodecane droplet (2 μL) can be easily adsorbed on the composite surface to exhibit the dodecane contact angle value: 0 degree, and water droplet (2 μL) cannot be placed on the surface even after the pull-up process of the needlepoint from the surface during the water contact angle measurements owing to the superhydrophobic property in each case. We define the water contact angle value on its surface as 180 degrees in this case. In fact, as shown in Figure 4(A), we can easily observe the sedimentation of the original OS particle powders into water; however, our present R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composite powders can possess a perfect repellent ability toward water, floating on the water interface due to the superhydrophobicity related to the composite powders (see Figure 4(B)).

In this way, it was clarified that the present R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composite powders can provide a superoleophilic/superhydrophobic property on their surface. Thus, it is strongly expected that these composite powders should be applicable to the separation of the mixture of oil and water. Because, superoleophilic surface can provide a good affinity toward organic oils. Thus, superoleophilic/su- perhydrophobic surface should simultaneously repel water and adsorb oils effectively. We tried to apply the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composite powders (100 mg: Run 2 in Table 1) as the packing material for column chromatography to separate the mixture of water (3 mL) and 1,2-dichloroethane (3 mL), and the results are shown in Figure 5. We also tried to apply the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/micro-sized controlled silica gel composites [R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/μ-SiO₂] powders, which were prepared under the similar conditions to those of Scheme 1 and Table 1 (see Scheme 2), as the packing material (100 mg) to separate the mixture of water and 1,2-dichloroethane. Because, the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/μ-SiO₂ composites powders were found to exhibit the same surface wettability to that of the R_F-(VM- SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites powders. The results are also shown in Figure 5(C), for comparison.

As shown in Figure 5(B), we cannot separate the mixture of water and blue- colored 1,2-dichloroethane (DE) by using the pristine OS particles and μ-SiO₂

particles (date not shown), although the rapid filtration behavior (20 sec) was observed, as well as the use of the original μ-SiO₂ particles (data not shown). On the other hand, we can smoothly isolate the colorless oil (DE) in 7.5 min by using the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites powders (Run 2 in Table 1) as the packing material (see Figure 5(A)). In contrast, it was demonstrated that the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/μ-SiO₂ composites powders (Run 2 in Scheme 2) requires the longer time from 7.5 to 29.5 min to isolate the transparent colorless DE under similar conditions (see Figure 5(C)). This efficient and higher separation behavior in the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites powders is due to the larger particle size (~840 μm) of OS particles than that (14 μm) of the μ-SiO₂ particles in the fluorinated oligomeric composites.

In addition to the separation of the mixture of water and DE, we tried to separate the W/O (oil: DE) emulsion by the use of the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites powders (Run 2 in Table 1) as the packing material, and the results are shown in Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 6, we can isolate the transparent colorless oil (DE) by using the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites powders (Run 2 in Table 1) as the packing material. Optical micrograph also revealed that the water droplet cannot be detected in the isolated oil at all, although water droplets can be easily observed in the original W/O emulsion as shown in Table 3. Table 3 also shows that the colorless oils were quantitatively isolated in recovery rate from 81% - 85% even after the use of the O/W emulsions four times under similar conditions.

As mentioned above, particular attention has been devoted to the development of practical technology for removal of organic micropollutants, especially

Table 3

Recovered rate and optical microscopy images of the separated oil from the W/O(oil: DE) emulsion by using the R F -(VM-SiO 3/2 ) n -R F /OS composites powders (Run 2 in Table 1 )

Cycle	1	2	3	4
Recovered rate (%)	83	82	85	81
Optical microscopy image
Original W/O emulsion	1 cycle	2 cycle	3 cycle	4 cycle

fluorinated organic micropollutants from industrial wastewater [10] - [15]. Our present R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites are expected to enhance the removal ability toward the fluorinated organic compounds through the fluorophilic-fluoro- philic interaction between the fluorinated moieties in organic molecules and the fluoroalkyl units in the composites. Superoleophilic/superhydrophobic property in the present fluorinated composites is also expected to enhance the removal ability of fluorinated compounds from aqueous solution through the effective oleophilic-oleophilic interaction between the organic molecules and the composites in aqueous solution with the superhydrophobicity on the composites. We herein tried to study on the removal ability of some fluorinated aromatic molecules including the corresponding non-fluorinated ones from aqueous methanol solutions by the use of the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites powders (Run 1 in Table 1). The Schematic outline of the removal process is illustrated in Figure 7. We have also studied on the removal ability of the above indicated compounds from aqueous methanol solutions by using the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/μ-SiO₂ composites powders (Run 1 in Scheme 2) under similar conditions, for comparison. The structures and concentrations (mg/dm³) of the used fluorinated and non-fluori- nated aromatic molecules are demonstrated in Table 4, and the removal ratios of these compounds are summarized in Table 5.

As shown in Table 5, the pristine OS particles and the μ-SiO₂ particles exhibited the extremely poor removal ability for the fluorinated and non-fluorinated organic molecules; however, the R_F-(VM-SiO_3/2)_n-R_F/OS composites can give a higher removal ability toward the fluorinated organic molecules such as OFBP,

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