Study on Preparation of P/POMAA Membrane for Effective Separation of Herbal Volatile Oils

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The separation and purification of volatile oils—essential components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)—face significant technical challenges due to the persistent formation of oil–water emulsions during industrial extraction processes. We designed a PVDF/POMAA membrane using self‐synthesized amphiphilic copolymer P(ACMO‐MMA‐ADMH) (POMAA) via surface segregation and response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal formulation (3.95 wt% POMAA, 13.07 wt% PVDF, 1.89 wt% PVPK30, 81.09 wt% DMAC) underwent 35.46 h non‐solvent‐induced phase inversion (NIPS). The membrane exhibited exceptional performance: purified water flux of 2146.5 L/(m2·h) and 92.4% oil retention, surpassing commercial PVDF membranes by 43% and 19.1%, respectively. Chlorination enhanced bacteriostatic activity, while stability tests confirmed resistance to acids/bases (pH 4–12), high temperatures (50°C–90°C), ethanol (60–100 vol%), and 30‐week operation. Antimicrobial efficacy prevented bacterial contamination during separation. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinity (254.9 kcal/mol) between components, ensuring structural integrity. This study provides a stable, efficient solution for industrial‐scale TCM volatile oil purification.