Rapid Approach to Synthesizing a Tannic Acid (TA)-3-Aminopropyltrietoxysilane (APTES) Coating for Efficient Oil–Water Emulsion Separation

Plant polyphenol-inspired surface modification of membranes is helpful for oil–water separation. However, the preparation of this coating is time-consuming. Herein, we introduce a rapid synthesis of the TA-APTES coating by the addition of sodium periodate (SP). The surface chemical composition and morphology of the resultant TA-APTES hybrid coatings were characterized using SEM, ATR-FTIR, and XPS. The hydrophilicity and membrane performance were investigated by the water contact angle, pure water permeability, and oil rejection for an isooctane-in-water emulsion. The experimental findings revealed that the optimal microfiltration (MF) membrane (MF-TA-APTES-SP-0.05) displayed exceptional hydrophilicity and water permeability (9558 L m–2 h–1 bar–1). The membrane realized highly efficient separation with a permeability (4117 L m–2 h–1 bar–1) and rejection of oils (>99%). Furthermore, it possessed outstanding chemical stability and maintained underwater superoleophobicity even after exposure to harsh conditions. This simple and rapid strategy of developing hydrophilic coatings as a modifier for the poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes has potential applications in oil–water separation and wastewater treatment.