Aerogels for the separation of asphalt-containing oil-water mixtures and the effect of asphalt stabilizer.

In order to separate the asphalt-containing oil-water mixture, an aerogel film was produced through supercritical drying of a polymer gel synthesized using the ring opening metathesis polymerization of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). The polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD)-based aerogels have a porous structure, super-lipophilicity and super-hydrophobicity which resulted in successful separation of the simple oil-water mixture, oil-water emulsion and asphalt-containing toluene-water mixture. However, the presence of asphalt decreases the separation efficiency by blocking the pores and acting as an emulsifier.