Abstract: Attapulgite (ATP) is a naturally abundant and low−cost clay mineral featuring a unique one−dimensional nanorod structure, which serves as an ideal foundational building block for fabricating ceramic membranes with mutually interconnected porous channels for wastewater separation. Nevertheless, the large−scale practical application of pure ATP ceramic membranes in oily wastewater treatment is greatly restricted by serious membrane fouling issues, mainly triggered by irreversible oil droplet adhesion on the membrane surface and internal pore blockage during filtration. To solve this bottleneck problem, a high−performance ZnO−modified attapulgite (ZnO@ATP) nanocomposite was successfully fabricated in this work to construct a distinctive micro/nanostructured membrane separation layer, aiming to tailor the membrane interfacial wettability and significantly strengthen its antifouling comprehensive performance. The ZnO@ATP nanocomposites were prepared through a facile and controllable chemical coprecipitation method. The casting suspension for membrane preparation was systematically optimized by adjusting pH value, dispersant type, solid content and additive dosage to acquire stable colloidal dispersion and precise particle assembly. The target composite membrane was fabricated on porous alumina substrates via dip−coating process and subsequent sintering treatment at 650 ℃. Multiple advanced characterization tests including TEM, XRD, FT−IR, XPS, particle size, zeta potential and contact angle measurements were conducted to analyze membrane structural and surface properties. The optimized suspension presented a narrow particle size distribution of approximately 500 nm and excellent colloidal stability, forming a uniform and defect−free membrane separation layer. The prepared membrane exhibited prominent superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity derived from the synergistic effect of material inherent hydrophilicity and hierarchical surface roughness. This special wettability constructs a stable interfacial hydration layer, effectively isolating oil from membrane surface and alleviating fouling. In cross−flow filtration of 500 ppm surfactant−stabilized oil−in−water emulsions, the membrane achieved 100% oil rejection rate, and its flux recovery ratio exceeded 69% after simple hydraulic cleaning with reversible weak fouling. This work reveals the antifouling mechanism of hydration layer engineering and provides a low−cost strategy for developing mineral−based antifouling membranes for practical oily wastewater treatment.