Nine, M.J.Kabiri, S.Sumona, A.K.Tung, T.T.Abdelsadik, M.M.Losic, D.2020-08-172020-08-172020Separation and Purification Technology, 2020; 233:116062-1-116062-101383-58661873-3794http://hdl.handle.net/2440/127065The inconsistent wettability of biological superwetting materials, due to aging, morphological change, structural fragility and biodegradation, limit their practical use for highly demanding applications such as oil-water separation and dye adsorption. Herein, we present a new source of superwetting materials harvested from waste chestnut-shell. The material is in the form of micro-fibres which are intrinsically oleophilic/hydrophobic, chemically stable, lightweight and structurally robust. The harvested microfibres, laying between inner-liner and outer shell of the chestnut, are naturally enriched with aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon that results in their high oleophilicity. We demonstrated that these superoleophilic fibre-networks could be used as oil-absorbent exhibiting outstanding absorption efficiency with a maximum capacity of ~94% of their own weight. Afterwards, an efficient filtration membrane was engineered using these micro-fibres showing their ability for continuous oil-water separation process for a series of organic solvents (toluene, canola oil, engine oil, hexane, turpentine oil, petrol and olive oil) co-existing with water. Furthermore, the fibres were realized to be capable of adsorbing organic dyes at oil-water interfaces in both static (slow adsorption) and dynamic (instant adsorption) condition suggesting their multifunctionality in wastewater treatments. A small amount of fibres (0.75 g/L) could efficiently remove water miscible dyes of Rhodamine-B and Methylene blue with a maximum removal efficiency of 88% and ~91%, respectively. These low-cost natural fibres from biowaste with outstanding oil-water separation and organic dye-adsorption capacity have considerable advantages compared to other low-cost materials reported earlier for industrial wastewater-treatment and environmental remediation.en© 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Biowaste; microfibres; superoleophilicity; separation; adsorptionJournal article100000053310.1016/j.seppur.2019.1160620004900444000562-s2.0-85072219703498116Nine, M.J. [0000-0002-5740-8627]Kabiri, S. [0000-0002-2269-6075]Tung, T.T. [0000-0002-1535-5109]Abdelsadik, M.M. [0000-0001-5890-0851]Losic, D. [0000-0002-1930-072X]