Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) researchers developed next-generation eco-friendly sorbent materials and published their latest findings in the world-renowned materials journal Advanced Functional Materials (Impact Factor 19).

JBNU Professor Nam Chang-woo (College of Engineering, Department of Organic Materials and Textile Engineering) announced on the 2nd that he had published a paper titled 'Square-Wettability Patterned, Recyclable Polyolefin Elastomer Sorbents for Efficient Chemical and Oil Spill Collection.' First author Young-min Choi, a master's student, and Jin-hyuk Kang, an integrated M.S.-Ph.D. student, demonstrated the outstanding research capabilities of JBNU graduate students through this work.

The research is notable for overcoming problems with conventional polypropylene-based sorbents, which have low mitigation efficiency in large-scale chemical and petroleum contamination incidents and incur excessive recovery and disposal costs, while achieving both eco-friendliness and economic feasibility.

To address these issues, the research team introduced diverse physical patterns into polyolefin elastomers and conducted precise analyses of absorption behavior, implementing a new oil-uptake mechanism capable of removing large amounts of contaminants at a faster rate than existing materials.

As a result, they achieved oil-uptake performance more than five times greater than existing materials and endowed the material with fluorescence and magnetic properties to enable nighttime detection and rapid retrieval. In addition, through a recovery process similar to refining, the adsorbed crude oil can be recovered at a 100% rate, qualifying the material as an innovative solution that combines environmental friendliness and economic viability.

The developed material is expected to enable quicker and more efficient removal operations at large environmental disaster sites such as marine oil spills, and, with a crude oil recovery rate of 100%, it could greatly contribute to resource circulation.

Particularly, aligned with government and global attention on carbon neutrality and green energy transition policies, it is evaluated as having very high commercialization value.

Professor Nam Chang-woo said, 'I am very pleased that the graduate students have actually realized an idea I conceived during my doctoral studies,' adding, 'I expect this achievement to lead to further research outcomes in the fields of polymers and sustainable materials.'

Young-min Choi, an integrated M.S.-Ph.D. student, said, 'I am grateful that the research I began as an undergraduate has led to good results,' and added, 'Under the professor's meticulous guidance, I learned what constitutes good research and a good paper.'

Meanwhile, first author Young-min Choi is a recipient of the 2025 Presidential Science Scholarship and a graduate research grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea, and co-researcher Jin-hyuk Kang is also an outstanding research talent receiving a doctoral research grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea.