Green preparation of nonflammable carbonized asphalt-melamine sponges as recyclable oil absorbents

Oil absorption by macroporous absorbents has been recognized as an easy, efficient, economical and environment-friendly method in such fields as oil pollution control, oil-water separation, and solidification of liquid fuels/hazardous. In this study, Carbonized asphalt-melamine sponge (CAMS) was prepared by the combination of dip-coating melamine sponge with asphalt/water emulsion and then mild carbonization at 500 °C. The produced CAMS presented high oil-absorption capacity and good recyclability, water-repellence, fire resistance, flexible compressibility and low density. Its chloroform absorption capacity can reach 246 g g−1, significantly higher than that of most of other reported oil absorbents. CAMS is verified as oil-absorbent material with great commercial development potentials that can be massively produced via green and economic process, using no organic solvents or harmful solutions while lowering manufacture costs.