Oil spills adsorption and cleanup by polymeric materials: A review

Abstract Oil spills are environmental disasters that impact human, plants, and wild life, such as birds, fish, and mammals. This article has comprehensively reviewed the progress made in oil spills remediation especially by polymeric adsorbents. Various methodologies involved in oil sorption using porous polymer network and its recovery are thoroughly discussed. In addition, new concepts and development in synthesizing sponge, fiber, graft, and crosslinked polymer networks are also collected briefly and future perspectives are suggested. With their unique physical and mechanical properties coupled with their very high surface area and small pore sizes, polymer‐based adsorbents can be used as advanced materials for cleaning up oil spills.