Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic membranes for oil-water separation application: A comprehensive review

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic (SHSO) membranes have gained remarkable attention, particularly in selective efficient oil-water separation applications. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the SHSO membranes, fabrication characterization methods, advantages disadvantages techniques, current status prospects surfaces, potential future research directions. Chemicals such as silanes, thiols, fatty acids, carbon nanotubes, polyethylene-based polymers are commonly used to adjust surface energy for membranes. These been proven successful selectively separating oil from mixtures with efficiency >99%. Although there limited studies on short-term stability assessment coatings upon exposure acid alkaline environments, effects temperature, adsorption heavier components crude oils (such asphaltenes, resins) not adequately investigated yet. Moreover, fouling performance water-derived is surprisingly missing applications literature. With breakthrough technology, use 2D materials graphene high-resolution 3D printers create hierarchical features application processes can be further advanced.