# Facile Preparation of iPP Fibrous Membranes from In Situ Microfibrillar Composites for Oil/Water Separation

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a new method to create iPP fibrous membranes for efficient oil/water separation with high performance and reusability.

## Contribution

A novel scalable method using in situ microfibrillar composites to fabricate high-performance oil/water separation membranes.

## Key findings

- iPP membranes with ellipsoidal stacking morphology achieved 65% porosity and 312.5% silicone oil adsorption capacity.
- Short microfibers created more open structures, enhancing oil adsorption performance.
- Membranes showed excellent reusability and stability over ten adsorption–desorption cycles.

## Abstract

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic nanofibrous or microfibrous membranes are regarded as ideal oil/water separation materials owing to their controllable porosity, superior separation efficiency, and ease of operation. However, developing efficient, scalable, and environmentally friendly strategies for fabricating such membranes remains a significant challenge. In this study, isotactic polypropylene (iPP) fibrous membranes with morphologies ranging from ellipsoidal stacking to microfiber stacking were successfully fabricated via a multistage stretching extrusion and leaching process using in situ microfibrillar composites (MFCs). The results establish a significant relationship between microfiber morphology and membrane oil adsorption performance. Compared with membranes formed from high-aspect-ratio microfibers, those comprising short microfibers feature larger pores and a more open structure, which enhances their oil adsorption capacity. Among the fabricated membranes, the iPP membrane with an ellipsoidal stacking morphology exhibits optimal performance, achieving a porosity of 65% and demonstrating both hydrophobicity and superoleophilicity, with a silicone oil adsorption capacity of up to 312.5%. Furthermore, this membrane shows excellent reusability and stability over ten adsorption–desorption cycles using chloroform. This study presents a novel approach leveraging in situ microfibrillar composites to prepare high-performance oil/water separation membranes in this study, underscoring their considerable promise for practical use.