Modified cotton fabric with durable anti-fouling performance for separation of surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions

Membrane applications for the separation of surfactant-stabilized emulsions are often constrained by a deficiency in permeability and anti-fouling properties. Herein, special wetted cotton fabric with protective layer (P-MH@CF) durable performance was synthesized two-step method, which related to interfacial ion migration technology unilateral spraying treatment. Permeability water P-MH@CF membrane were investigated systematically. Emulsions stabilized anionic, cationic, or non-ionic surfactant successfully separated high efficiency. In process separation, oil droplets surrounded surfactants difficult demulsify gathered physically on surface form “cream layer”. The stearic acid acted as layer, like quilt, protecting from contamination. retained robust reusability even after layer” had been washed off, promising remediation oily wastewater containing surfactants.