Surface engineering of electrospun polyvinyl chloride nanofibrous membranes with zeolitic imidazolate framework for effective oil spill removal

Oil spills pose significant threats to the environment and public health, necessitating effective remediation solutions. This study presents the development of optimized polyvinyl chloride-based electrospun nanofibrous membranes enhanced with zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-based particles for efficient oil spill cleanup. By fine-tuning post-synthetic modification conditions—specifically at a lower reaction temperature of 55 °C under basic conditions—the interfacial compatibility between ZIF particles and the polymer matrix was significantly improved. This optimization led to a 47% increase in crude oil adsorption within just two minutes compared to unmodified membranes. The membranes demonstrated high flux rates of organic solvents 440, 712, and 1220 L m⁻² h⁻¹ for dodecane, toluene, and hexane, respectively, and maintained mechanical regeneration efficiency over more than five cycles without substantial performance loss. Additionally, they achieved an impressive crude oil flux of 52 L m⁻² h⁻¹, highlighting their superior efficiency in crude oil/water separation. These findings emphasize the critical role of preparation parameters in optimizing membrane morphology and performance for sustainable water-based oil spill remediation.