Utilizing environmentally friendly hyperbranched polyglycerol polymers to separate gasoline from deionized water

Abstract

Hyperbranched polyglycerol polymers (HPG) were synthesized, characterized, and used to separate gasoline from deionized water. The study indicates HPG as potentially effective materials for the recovery of oil from oil/water emulsion. High and low molecular weight HPG were synthesized using the cationic ring-opening polymerization method and characterized by various methods including, NMR, Fourier transform infrared-spectroscopy, DXR Raman microscope, carbon hydrogen and nitrogen analysis, gel permeation chromatography measurements, biodegradability, and toxicity testing. The prepared polymers are environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and are able to recover up to 90.30% of oil from oil/water emulsion under an optimized dose of 500 mg L−1 in 1 h. A higher rate of removal can be achieved by increasing the polymer dose up to 200 mg L−1, with a reaction time up to 3 h, and a maximum operating temperature of 60°C. The results of this study offer a simple and effective technology that can be applied for the removal of valuable products, increase the profitability for the oil and gas industry, and protect the environment.