Synergistically Engineered Multifunctional Membranes through Centrifugal Spinning and Interface Assembly for Enhanced Oil–Water Separation and Pollutant Degradation

Complex wastewater containing oils and dyes poses significant ecological threats. Conventional membrane separation processes often suffer from limited permeability-selectivity trade-offs, susceptibility to fouling, and inability to degrade soluble organic pollutants. To address these critical challenges, multifunctional membranes were engineered through a synergistic combination of centrifugal spinning and interfacial assembly. Core–sheath polyacrylonitrile/zein fibrous membranes were first fabricated via one-step centrifugal spinning, serving as a robust and hierarchically structured support layer. Subsequently, bayberry-like Ag/BiOCl/Bi 2 WO 6 ternary heterojunction photocatalysts were in situ grown onto this layer, achieving seamless integration of the substrate and photocatalytic layer through the unique interfacial interactions mediated by the zein sheath. This ingenious design not only endowed the membrane with ultrahigh flux and satisfactory separation efficiency for both oil–water mixtures (11970 L·m –2 ·h –1, 99.5%) and emulsions (2148 L·m –2 ·h –1, 99.3%) but also enabled rapid and efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants. Furthermore, the composite membrane exhibits good chemical stability and recycling performance, maintaining high efficiency even after multiple cycles or under harsh chemical conditions. This work proposes a scalable strategy that integrates oil/water separation and pollutant degradation, providing a viable technological platform for wastewater treatment.