A hierarchical structured steel mesh decorated with metal organic framework/graphene oxide for high-efficient oil/water separation.

• A hierarchical structured mesh decorated with UiO-66-NH 2 /GO was prepared. • The hierarchical structured mesh possessed super-hydrophilicity and underwater super-oleophobicity. • The hierarchical structured mesh exhibited outstanding antifouling performance. • The hierarchical structured mesh possessed super-high separation performance and recycling capacity. A hierarchical structured steel mesh decorated with metal organic framework (UiO-66-NH 2) nanoparticles/graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets was successfully prepared via a simple self-assemble method. Because water molecules tend to build hydrogen bonds with the amine, carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups of UiO-66-NH 2 /GO hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure can easily capture water and tightly lock the water to build a stable water layer on the steel mesh surface and block oil in contact with the steel mesh. Therefore, the obtained hierarchical structured steel mesh exhibits super-hydrophilicity, underwater super-oleophobicity, excellent oil resistance and outstanding oil/water separation performance with a superior high permeating flux (54,500 L m−2 h−1) and rejection (>99.9%) under gravity force, indicating the mesh possesses great potential for treating oily wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]