Preparation of superhydrophobic membranes with ultraviolet‐absorbing capacity for oil–water separation by electrospinning

Abstract To address the escalating issue of oily wastewater, separation membranes with special wettability on the surface are widely used in oil–water separation. The development of separation membranes with not only stable separation flux but also anti‐fouling properties is an urgent problem. Therefore, polystyrene/polyacrylonitrile‐polyvinylidene fluoride/polydimethylsiloxane‐titanium dioxide nanoparticle (PS/PAN‐PVDF/PDMS@TiO 2 ) composite membranes with superhydrophobicity and lipophilicity were prepared by electrospinning technique. By changing the doping amount of TiO 2 nanoparticles, the multilevel rough structure was constructed on the surface, and the transformation of the Ti–O–C chemical bond to the Si–O–Ti chemical bond was realized inside the composite membrane. The results showed that the composite membrane had excellent superhydrophobicity (154.9°) and mechanical properties (tensile strength of 3.54 MPa, elongation of 60.95%). The membrane can absorb ultraviolet light and exhibits enhanced resistance to fouling when exposed to visible‐UV light. Additionally, the composite membrane demonstrates an adsorption capacity of 30–100 g/g for a wide range of oils. In corrosive environments, the composite membrane maintains superhydrophobicity (above 150°) and achieves high oil–water separation efficiency (97%). After 40 cycles, the separation flux of 6000 L.h −1 m −2 can be maintained. Hence, superhydrophobic oleophilic composite membranes with a stable separation flux and resistance to fouling can be employed in the field of oil–water separation. Highlights PS/PAN‐PVDF/PDMS@TiO2 composite membrane with multilevel rough structure. PS/PAN‐PVDF/PDMS@TiO2 composite membrane with excellent UV absorption and self‐cleaning ability. PS/PAN‐PVDF/PDMS@TiO2 composite membrane with stable oil–water separation efficiency in harsh environments.