Deionized water, the anionic surfactant, and the chelating agent, were used to recover the original flux value. The membrane cleaning operation was essential to recover the initial hydraulic membrane permeability. The membrane fouling experiment was conducted at a 138-kPa transmembrane pressure (TMP) difference in the laminar flow zone. During experiments, the membrane was first fouled, and the fouled membrane was cleaned using a cleaning agent. In a cross-flow filtration unit, the cell consists of a flat sheet comprising a polyamide membrane with pore diameters under the microfiltration range. Transient flux decline could be minimized by using a cross-flow setup. Transient flux decline and foulant deposition during the operating time are the main drawbacks of the membrane separation process. The hydrophilic end of the emulsifier molecule is attracted to the water and the hydrophobic end is attracted to the fat/oil. The membrane has additional advantages compared with other commercial processes, such as adsorption, distillation, and centrifugation, for example, less energy requirement, no addition of chemicals, and a reduction of the COD to within permissible limits. Membrane separation is a unique process to reprocess oily wastewater. For particle-stabilized (Pickering) emulsions we find that even extremely hydrophobic, nonwetting particles can be strongly bound to (like-charged) oilwater. This discharge cannot mix with fresh water, owing to the high oil content, total dissolved solids, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Research has shown that asphaltenes are the prime stabilizers of water-in-oil emulsions and that resins. Oil–water emulsion discharge or reuse is a major problem for the environment and ecological systems. The formation of water-in-oil emulsions, a major complication in oil spills, is described. When the aqueous phase is dispersed, and the oil phase is the continuous phase, the emulsion is termed as water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion.