Preparation of self-healing membranes based on oxime carbamate bond by electrospinning method and application for oil-water separation

Cleanup of oily wastewater and crude oil spills is a global challenge. Traditional membrane materials are susceptible to physical and chemical damage during long-term use, affecting separation efficiency and service life. The introduction of self-healing technology helps to maintain the functionality of the membrane, reduce maintenance costs, and improve the sustainability of environmental management. In this paper, a compound PVUS with an oxime carbamate bond is reported. After mixing it with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a functional oil-water separation membrane is prepared by electrospinning technology. By adding the compound PVUS, the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of the nanofiber membrane were improved without changing the hydrophobicity of the membrane. The PVUS/PVDF nanofiber membranes have good oil-water separation ability, the separation efficiency of some organic solvents is above 98 %, and the oil flux is 4000-5600 L.m-2.h-1. At the same time, it is important that it also has a good separation effect on W/O emulsion. The membrane also has self-healing properties due to the presence of the oxime carbamate bond structure. The membrane retains its excellent flexibility and separation efficiency following a six-day exposure to a low temperature environment. In addition, it has excellent anti-fouling performance and good air permeability. Thus, the PVUS/PVDF nanofiber membranes provide insights and implications for advancing sustainable oil-water separation.