Research progress in special wettable nanofibrous membranes for oil/water separation

Abstract

The oil/water mixture is sepearated and then treated, it can not only realize the reuse of oil and water resources, but also effectively avoid the environmental pollution caused by directly discharging. Therefore, it is particularly important to do research on the materials, which is used to separate the oil/water mixture for saving resources and protecting the environment. Among them, the special wettable nanofiber membranes with superhydrophobic/superoleophilic or superhydrophilic/superoleophobic have attracted substantial attention in the application research of oil/water separation. In this review, the theoretical basis of special wettability and the applications of electrospinning nanofiber membranes were described. The research progress of special wettable nanofiber membrane materials in oil/water separation field was summarized. Finally, it was pointed out that in the oil-water separation process, the fine microstructure on the special wettability nanofiber membranes is easily damaged by mechanical damage and chemical pollution, which greatly limits its applications in oil-water separation. At the same time, the future of the special wettable nanofiber membrane materials was briefly discussed.

Keywords

• special wettability
• nanofiber membrane
• oil/water mixture separation
• stratified oil
• emulsified oil