In this study

for the first time

poly(amido acid) (PAA) was capped using hydrophilic ionic liquid (IL)

and then hydrophilic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was added to its N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solution to prepare fibrous membranes by electrospinning. The electrospinning process of polyimide was made more stable by the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone and ionic liquid. Scanning electron microscopy photographs showed that the prepared co-blended membranes could form continuous fibres

and the final prepared membranes possessed uniform fibre diameter and pore distribution. Tests confirmed that a voltage of 16kV

a jet speed of 0.8mL/min and a curing distance of 15cm was the optimum condition for electrostatic spinning process. After modification by IL capping and PVP co-blending

the fibre membrane obtained more excellent mechanical properties

with the elastic modulus increasing from 729.12MPa to 3131.78MPa

while the tensile strength increased from 86.84MPa to 196.05MPa and the elongation at break increased from 2.84% to 12.90%

with all data showing significant improvements. As a result of the modification with hydrophilic substances

the membrane surface wettability was significantly improved and the water contact angle decreased from 128.97° without modification to 34.89°. In addition

it has a better separation effect on emulsified oil/water mixture

and the maximum flux of the modified membrane can reach 275.47L·m-2·h-1 and the maximum separation efficiency can reach more than 92%

and it can maintain more than 80% separation efficiency after 10 cycles. These properties can provide new ideas for the design of this solution for future wastewater treatment.