A mussel bionic-inspired membrane based on modified waste masks for oily wastewater treatment

Membrane materials are highly valued in the field of oil-water separation due to the advantages of simplicity, efficiency, economic and environmental protection, and anti-pollution. The polluting nature of fluorinated materials such as PFOA, PVDF, PTFE, and FS-50 has resulted in an urgent need for the development of green and environmentally friendly membrane preparation solutions. In light of the detrimental environmental impact of fluorine-containing materials such as PFOA, PVDF, PTFE, and FS-50, there is a pressing need to develop sustainable and environmentally conscious membrane preparation solutions for oil-water separation. In light of the growing quantity of waste masks, which have resulted in significant environmental concerns, it is pertinent to inquire whether the recycling of these materials could be a viable avenue for the production of membrane materials. This paper proposes a "waste to waste" scheme inspired by mussel bionics. Waste masks were modified by tannic acid (TA) and epsilon-polylysine (epsilon PL) immersion, and nanoparticles were deposited to prepare membrane material M-TA-4 with superhydrophilic and submerged superoleophobic properties, for the treatment of oily wastewater. The membrane exhibited separation efficiencies exceeding 99.5 %, with an optimal permeate flux of 74,655 L m- 2 h- 1. It can be utilized in diverse acidic and alkaline environments (pH = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14). The remarkable underwater oleophobicity, corrosion resistance, and stability of M-TA-4 present a significant potential and advantage in separation.