Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42073696›Full record

ArticleMaterials (Basel, Switzerland)2026

C16-Functionalized Diatomaceous Earth: A Sustainable Approach for the Selective Encapsulation and Remediation of Hydrocarbons from Water.

Rosalia Maria Cigala, Mario Samperi, Paola Cardiano, Alessandro Tripodo, Giuseppe Sabatino, Catia Cannilla, Giuseppina La Ganga, Ileana Ielo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Materials (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Rosalia Maria CigalaDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2054-9191
Mario SamperiNational Research Council-Institute of Advanced for Energy Technology (CNR-ITAE), Via Comunale S. Lucia 5, 98126 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4362-2574
Paola CardianoDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1380-5380
Alessandro TripodoDepartment of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
Giuseppe SabatinoDepartment of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
Catia CannillaNational Research Council-Institute of Advanced for Energy Technology (CNR-ITAE), Via Comunale S. Lucia 5, 98126 Messina, Italy.
Giuseppina La GangaDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
Ileana IeloDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6101-8015

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The primary objective of this research is to engineer a high-performance, sustainable material for aquatic remediation by repurposing low-cost biogenic silica into a selective hydrophobic adsorbent. By integrating the natural hierarchical porosity of Diatomaceous Earth (DE) with a tailored silanization strategy, this work aims to provide a scalable and eco-friendly solution for the efficient encapsulation and mechanical recovery of hydrocarbons from contaminated water. To overcome the inherent hydrophilicity of DE, a two-step functionalization process was developed, involving alkaline activation followed by the covalent grafting of hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (C16) in different concentrations. The resulting C16@DE hybrid materials underwent a dramatic surface energy transformation, shifting from hydrophilic behavior to robust hydrophobicity, with static contact angles reaching up to 134.8°. Optical analysis revealed a unique remediation mechanism: while pristine DE disperses homogeneously in the aqueous phase, functionalized C16@DE spontaneously organizes into discrete pellets upon contact with diesel, effectively encapsulating the fuel. Quantitative UV/vis spectrophotometry confirmed that these composites sequester approximately 55-56% of the diesel phase. Together, these results demonstrate that C16@DE materials couple intrinsic biosilica porosity with tailored hydrophobicity to achieve efficient hydrocarbon capture. By combining the natural hierarchical porosity of diatoms with engineered surface selectivity, this research positions functionalized DE as a scalable, low-cost, and eco-friendly promising solution for marine oil spill recovery and industrial wastewater treatment.

Indexed as

diatomaceous earthdiesel encapsulationhydrophobicityoil–water separationsurface functionalizationsustainable remediation

Identifiers

PMID42073696
PMCPMC13117038

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.