Isam Aljundi

Oily wastewater produced from the oil and gas industry is increasingly recognized as a pressing challenge in wastewater treatment due to their harmful impacts on aquatic life and human health. Membrane technology offers a sustainable approach for emulsion separation; however, conventional MXene-based membranes suffer from limited mass transport, caused by their narrow interlayer spacing, and poor long-term stability due to oxidation. In this study, we developed a high-performing MXene membrane with enlarged interlayer spacing and improved structural integrity for efficient oil–water separation. By intercalating Si-based species during ultrasonication-assisted exfoliation, we obtained a modified MXene membrane (U-MX-Si) with a d-spacing of 11 Å and enhanced surface energy (41 mJ·m–2). These modifications reduced structural defects, promoted uniform self-assembly of exfoliated sheets on the membrane support, and resulted in outstanding separation efficiency (99%) alongside a stable permeate flux during operation. The ability to maintain both high selectivity and stable performance highlights the practical potential of U-MX-Si membranes for wastewater treatment. This work demonstrates a viable pathway for advancing MXene-based membrane technologies toward real-world applications in the oil and gas industry.