Durable and Stable MnMoO4-Coated Copper Mesh for Highly Efficient Oil-in-Water Emulsion Separation and Photodegradation of Organic Contaminants

Wastewater pollution has always been a major environmental problem worldwide. Furthermore, in light of the frequent oil spills that have occurred in recent years, the treatment of oily wastewater is particularly important. Herein, a MnMoO4-coated copper mesh was synthesized via a facile two-step hydrothermal route for application in the separation of oil-in-water emulsions. The mesh showed exceptional wettability and separation efficiency (more than 99.9% for toluene-in-water emulsions). In addition, the mesh possessed excellent photocatalytic activity toward the photodegradation of organic dyes in emulsions. The findings also demonstrated the durability and stability of the mesh, as evidenced by the sustained high separation efficiency that they displayed after abrasion or corrosion. Taken together, the findings indicate that the mesh prepared herein has great potential for application in oily wastewater treatment.