Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE Electrospun PVDF/PMMA/CNT composite nanofiber membranes are developed for efficient oil–water separation. CNT incorporation regulates fiber structure and enhances hydrophobicity and thermal stability, improving separation performance. At an optimal CNT content of 6%, the membrane achieves high separation efficiency and stable recyclability with good antifouling behavior, demonstrating promising potential for treating oily wastewater.

ABSTRACT
With the continuous increase in the discharge of oil-contaminated wastewater, the development of efficient polymer-based membranes for oil–water separation has attracted significant attention. In this work, poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(methyl methacrylate)/carbon nanotubes composite nanofiber membranes were fabricated via electrospinning, and the effects of CNTs content on membrane microstructure, hydrophobicity, thermal stability, and oil–water separation performance were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the incorporation of CNTs effectively improves the surface roughness and structural uniformity of the nanofiber membranes, leading to enhanced hydrophobicity and separation performance. When the CNTs content reached 6%, the composite membrane exhibited optimal overall performance, delivering a high water flux of 3010.46 L m−2 h−1, a water contact angle of 137.2°, and oil–water separation efficiencies exceeding 98.46% for various oil–water mixtures. Moreover, the composite membrane maintained stable separation efficiency and good flux recovery during repeated separation–cleaning cycles, indicating favorable antifouling properties. These results provide experimental evidence supporting the application of CNT-reinforced polymer composite nanofiber membranes in oil–water separation.