PVDF membrane with tea powder adhered for efficient separation of emulsified oil

Conventional oily wastewater treatment can remove slick oil and dispersed oil well, but it is difficult for it to remove emulsified oil. Nonetheless, the development of super wetting materials provides a key role in treating the emulsified oil, but there are some problems, such as expensive raw materials, complicated processes, as well as secondary pollution. In order to treat these problems, a brand-new oil/water separation membrane (TEA/PVDF membrane) was developed by combining the viscosity of sodium alginate (SA) and the filter tea powder (TEA) onto the surface of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane by a vacuum pump. Furthermore, the underwater oleophobic angle reached 135o. Moreover, the oil-water separation experiments of oil-in-water emulsion utilizing TEA/PVDF membrane demonstrated excellent separation efficiency (99.6%) and good flux (254 L m-2 h-1 bar-1). Notably, upon ten cycles, the oil removal rate was still as high as 99.2%. Moreover, the TEA/PVDF membrane was able to separate oil-in-water emulsions in environments with strong acids, strong bases, and high salt concentrations, with a separation efficiency of over 95.9%. Such a novel oil/water separation membrane is economic, environmentally protective, and simple production process, which exhibits overwhelming potential in practical life for treating oily wastewater.