Polysulfonamide electret membranes for hydrocarbon emulsion separation

Wastewater containing emulsified petroleum products poses a serious threat to the environment. Hydrocarbons change the physicochemical properties of the environment, poison the body of living organisms, and envelop their bodies, leading to the suppression of biocenosis and degradation of ecosystems. In this regard, polysulfonamide membranes for water purification from emulsified oil have been studied. To increase resistance to oiling and improve performance, the filters were treated with corona discharge at a voltage of U = 5–35 kV for 1–5 minutes. As a result of corona treatment, the efficiency increased from 74.9 to 84.5%, while productivity increased by up to 11 times. This circumstance is explained by a change in the contact properties of the surface of the modified membranes, as shown by the results of this study.