Thomas Stegmaier, Denkendorf (Germany)

Research position: PD Dr., head of department technical textiles of German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF), Germany

Address: Technische Textilien, Oberflächentechnologie, BionikKörschtalstraße 26, 73770 Denkendorf

Term of contract: permanent

Yan Liu, Changchun (China)

Research position: Prof. Dr., deputy head of Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (KLBE) of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, China

Address: 5988 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022 P.R.China

Term of contract: permanent

Separation of dispersed oil from industrial and natural waters has become an increasing worldwide challenge in order to protect the environment and to provide worldwide clean tap water. However, most of the current methods involve harsh conditions. Taking all factors into account, separation treatment stands out from the rest as a simple, universal, scalable approach for valid removal of oil from water. In the proposed project we will analyze the fundamental principles of a local directed transport of oil droplets in water on chemically and topographically structured surfaces. This innovative research approach for improved oil coalescence efficiency is derived from the mechanisms of droplet adhesion and coalescence on structured natural surfaces like spider web fibers.