Surface modification of polyester fabrics for improving oil–water separation efficiency using air pressure plasma without any additives

Herein, superhydrophilic polyester textiles were fabricated via plasma modification with a view to their application in the separation of oil–water mixtures. The research delved into the impact of fabric treatment and variations in grammage, including 77, 104, and 132 g/m² on separation performance and flux. The surface characteristics of the prepared polyester textiles were assessed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. Additionally, the antifouling properties and reusability of both fabrics without treatment and treated fabrics were examined. Notably, employing a five-layer treated fabric substantially improved separation efficiency up to 99.78%, and even after 5 cycles, it remained at 91.80%, attributable to the enhanced hydrophilicity conferred by APP treatment. In addition, after 20 abrasion cycles, the oil contact angle (OCA) of the five-layer treated polyester fabric decreased by 36 °.