3D Printing of Polylactic Acid Membranes for Oil-Water Separation and Its Performance

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technique was used to fabricate porous polylactic acid (PLA) membranes with a controllable pore size and regular pore structure. Then PVA/PLA composite membrane was prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the surface modifier through hydrogen bonds cross-linking. When the filling rate of PLA membrane reaches 70%, the underwater oil contact angle of the PVA/PLA-70% composite membrane is 165.9°, showing superolcophobic properties. In case of applying a tiny amount of water to moisten the oil-water separation membrane, the PVA/PLA-70% composite membrane oil-water separation experiment demonstrates that: (1) The separation efficiency of PVA/PLA-70% is greater than 99% and the water flux is 73. 12 L/(nr • s); (2) After 80 oil-water separation cycles, the separation efficiency is still greater than 97%, and the water flux keeps constant at 56. 10 L/(m2 • s), confirming that PVA modified PLA membrane has a reliable cycle stability. In conclusion, the 3D printing technique provides a novel research methodology for preparing biodegradable oil-water separation membrane. © 2024 Editorial Office of Acta Petrolei Sinica. All rights reserved.