Cotton fiber coated with a novel lysozyme-polymer brush conjugates for efficient oil-water separation

In this work, for the first time, a conjugate was generated by grafting poly(oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate) (POEGMA) on lysozyme (Lyso). Followed by a phase transition of Lyso (PTL) in the presence of tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), the resulting new film (PTL-POEGMA) was coated on cotton fibers to give PTL-POEGMA@cotton fiber. PTL-POEGMA film improved hydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity (underwater contact angle greater than 150º) of cotton fiber, which has good separation effect on oil-water mixture (with a separation efficiency of more than 99 %). In addition, the PTL-POEGMA@cotton fiber also has efficient antimicrobial adhesion effect and anti-oil (dichloromethane as an example) adhesion effect. Modified cotton fibers are expected to be used in the oil-water separation process of wastewater treatment. This PTL-POEGMA film is expected to be a new and effective modified material for oil-water separation medium.