Gel-emulsion templated polymeric monoliths for efficient removal of particulate matters

In this work, a series of porous polymeric monoliths with densities as low as similar to 0.060 g/cm(3) were prepared by employing some newly created gel-emulsions as templates, of which acidified cotton was utilized for the first time as an efficient stabilizer. The monoliths as obtained could be purified by simple washing and dried at ambient conditions. Moreover, they showed strong affinity to particulate matters (PMs). Adsorption tests revealed that the saturated adsorption capacity of one of the monoliths (M8) to PM2.5 could reach similar to 520 mg/g and the removal efficiency exceeds 93% at ambient conditions, a prominent result considering the collective advantages of the monolith. Importantly, the monoliths after adsorption can be recovered and re-used via simple washing and drying. More importantly, the stabilizer as created is so efficient that 0.1% (w/v, cotton to the volume of the continuous phase) is enough to stabilize the gel emulsions. Considering the excellence in performance, low cost in preparation, and convenience in regeneration, we believe that the monoliths are strong candidates for real-life applications.