A facile and effective strategy to develop a super-hydrophobic/super-oleophilic fiberglass filter membrane for efficient micron-scale water-in-oil emulsion separation.

In order to achieve efficient micron-scale water-in-oil emulsion separation, a facile and effective strategy is developed to prepare a super-hydrophobic/super-oleophilic fiberglass filter membrane (FGm). Methyl-trichlorosilane (MTS) is successfully cross-linked on the surface of the fiberglass filter membrane (FGm) and aggregates into a 3D nanowire array to provide low surface energy. Nano fumed hydrophobic silica (SH-SiO) is used to construct the well-defined nanosphere structure on the surface of FGm and enhance the ability of the membrane to resist extreme conditions.