Enhanced Oil/Water Separation Performance of PVA Nanofiber Membranes Modified With MIL ‐53(Fe) Metal–Organic Frameworks

The treatment of oily wastewater remains a significant environmental challenge due to the limitations of conventional separation techniques, including low efficiency and high energy consumption. In this study, we developed a novel polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/MIL‐53(Fe) composite membrane via electrospinning and glutaraldehyde (GA) cross‐linking to achieve efficient oil/water separation. The incorporation of hydrophilic MIL‐53(Fe) nanoparticles into the PVA matrix significantly enhanced membrane wettability, exhibiting superhydrophilicity (water contact angle: 5.4°) and underwater oleophobicity (oil contact angle: 150.3°). The optimized membrane (1.0 wt% MIL‐53(Fe)) demonstrated exceptional separation performance, with an oil rejection rate of 96.8% and a high water flux of 924 L m −2 h −1 under gravity‐driven conditions. The membrane's superior performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of MIL‐53(Fe) and the electrospun nanofiber network. This work presents a scalable and environmentally friendly approach for fabricating high‐performance oil/water separation membranes with potential applications in industrial wastewater treatment.