Simplified 3D Printing Method for Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Oil–Water Separation Membrane With Controllable Pore Size

Wang X, An J, Hassan A, Gao Q, Liu X, Boudaoud H (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Journal of Applied Polymer Science Wiley

DOI: 10.1002/app.57217

Abstract

Efficient separation of oil/water mixtures is crucial amid increasing environmental challenges from industrial activities. In recent years, researchers have discovered that biomimetic hydrophobic materials hold significant potential for promising applications. However, existing technologies often use non-degradable materials and face challenges in structure design. This study explores how Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printing can create PLA membranes with controlled pore sizes (minimum 313.02 μm) without complex modeling. In the subsequent modification process, a superhydrophobic nano-silica coating is easily applied via spraying, achieving a contact angle of 154.64°. The sample maintained its superhydrophobicity even after undergoing water jet impact and peeling cycles, demonstrating the stability of the coating. The modified membranes could achieve oil–water separation with a biggest flux of 81.89 mL cm−2 min−1 and over 90% efficiency in dichloromethane separation. This research highlights FFF's potential in sustainable oil/water separation, addressing current limitations and paving the way for eco-friendly separation technologies.

Involved external institutions

Research Team on Innovation Process / Équipe de Recherche sur les Processus Innovatifs (ERPI) FR France (FR) Zhengzhou University / 郑州大学 CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Wang, X., An, J., Hassan, A., Gao, Q., Liu, X., & Boudaoud, H. (2025). Simplified 3D Printing Method for Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Oil–Water Separation Membrane With Controllable Pore Size. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57217

MLA:

Wang, Xiaolong, et al. "Simplified 3D Printing Method for Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Oil–Water Separation Membrane With Controllable Pore Size." Journal of Applied Polymer Science (2025).

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