Synthesis of novel high-performance cotton-based superhydrophobic membranes for separation of oil/water mixtures and emulsions

Typical challenges in preparing superhydrophobic membranes through the coating method for oil/water separation are the long manufacturing processes, the emission of volatile organic compounds, and the reduction in separation efficiency with an increasing number of cycles. In this work, we report a short process and environmentally friendly coating method for preparing superhydrophobic membranes on cotton fabric. The membrane was mechanically robust, which could withstand at least 2000 cycles of Martindale abrasion and maintain its superhydrophobicity. The membranes demonstrated high separation efficiency (> 97.8