An Amphipathic Supramolecular Networks of Catechol-Functionalized Grafted Terpolymer for Oil–Water Separation

Fine surfactant-stabilized emulsion separation from industrial produced water remains a critical challenge, as conventional membranes suffer from severe fouling, poor dual-phase adaptability, and limited stability. Herein, a high-performance oil–water separation membrane was fabricated via RAFT polymerization and dopamine post-functionalization, constructing a catechol-functionalized supramolecular network stabilized by hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking. This work features three core innovations: a well-defined catechol-functionalized PDMA- g -PEG-co-PDA terpolymer, liquid-triggered adaptive wettability without external stimuli, and a robust supramolecular network for enhanced mechanical and antifouling properties. The membrane exhibits exceptional hydration capability, realizing molecular discrimination of oil–water mixtures via distinct diffusion kinetics. It achieves > 99% separation efficiency for all tested oil-in-water/water-in-oil emulsions at a high flux of ~850 L·m −2 ·h −1 and maintains > 99% efficiency after 15+ recyclable cycles. This intelligent amphipathic membrane addresses key limitations of traditional separation materials, offering a sustainable high-throughput solution for industrial oily wastewater treatment and environmental remediation, advancing the design of adaptive separation materials.