The invention discloses filter paper having a function of oil-water separation, and a simple preparation method and application of the filter paper. The filter paper takes common experimental filter paper as substrate, and an organic/inorganic compound hydrophobic layer is loaded on the substrate, wherein the organic/inorganic compound hydrophobic layer is prepared from the following components: nano-silica, a silane coupling agent, a catalyst, ethanol and water, and the weight ratio of the nano-silica to the silane coupling agent to the catalyst to the ethanol to the water is equal to (2-5):(2-10):(2-10):(80-100):(5-20). The filter paper is prepared by adopting a dip-coating method; the preparation method of the filter paper comprises the steps of evenly dispersing the nano-silica, the silane coupling agent and the catalyst in mixed liquid of the ethanol and the water, dipping the filter paper into the dispersed liquid, taking out the dipped filter paper, and then naturally drying the filter paper in the air to obtain the filter paper having the function of oil-water separation. The filter paper is simple in preparation method, good in stability, reusable and convenient to dispose, and has a good application prospect in the fields such as oil-water separation and oily sewage treatment.