Green superhydrophobic membranes with magnetic responsiveness and UV resistance for oil–water separation

To address the issues of poor wettability, low separation flux, and limited functionality in traditional separation membranes, this study developed an eco-friendly, multifunctional composite membrane based on polylactic acid (PLA/PVP-PDMS/Fe 2 O 4 /TiO 2 ) by combining electrospinning with electrostatic spraying technology. Through morphological and structural characterization, it was demonstrated that the composite membrane exhibits a multiscale rough structure, combining magnetic responsiveness with UV resistance. The results demonstrate that the composite membrane exhibits outstanding oil–water separation performance, achieving a separation flux of up to 4882.15 L·m −2 ·h −1 and a separation efficiency of 99.53%. With a water contact angle as high as 155.5° and a rolling angle as low as 4.5°, it displays superhydrophobic properties and excellent anti-fouling characteristics. In addition, this composite membrane demonstrates excellent potential for treating wastewater in corrosive environments, maintaining a hydrophobic angle above 150° across various corrosive conditions.