Non-expensive hydrophobic and magnetic melamine sponges for the removal of hydrocarbons and oils from water

In this work, melamine sponges were functionalized, to obtain hydrophobic and magnetic materials capable to absorb oil and hydrocarbons, by the addition of stearic acid (SA) and ferrofluid (FF) in a simple way. Physicochemical and structural properties of melamine sponges with stearic (M-SA) and stearic acid with ferrofluid (M-SA+FF) were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the sponges have porous structure, which make them highly...