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

ABSTRACT 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/(m 2 ·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.