Physical-washable Revivable biomass membrane with high separation Rates against harsh conditions for sustainable treatment of wastewater containing emulsified oil

Wastewater treatment for oil–water emulsions is a critical challenge in the environmental and energy sectors. The oil–water separation based on super-wettability membrane has received widespread attention. However, traditional membranes struggle with severe irreversible fouling due to interactions between emulsified oil and hydrophilic organic compounds in practical wastewater, problematizing continuous separation. Here, a non-synthetic polymer membrane with easy-washability after fouling is reported, which shows full recovery of original separation efficiency. The membrane is composed of cellulose blended with sepiolite, which encapsulates and infiltrates the silica nanofiber membrane through silanol condensation and capillary action, then forms a “tight top, bottom, and inside” flexible fusion structure in one step. The dynamic water absorption capability of sepiolite and cellulose can create an enhanced hydration layer on the dense membrane surface, this allows the membrane to maintain structural integrity and stable separation efficiency even in oil emulsion wastewater containing hydrophilic organic compounds. Also, the membrane may undergo assimilative healing by interacting with pollutants to form part of the membrane structure. So, it shows great performances for extended separation, withstanding oil intrusion pressures over 600 kPa, and nearly 100 % removal for oil emulsions. This promising material offers a universal modification strategy with broad wastewater treatment applications.