Advanced fabrication and oil absorption properties of super-hydrophobic recycled cellulose aerogels

A facile and cost-effective synthesis method of biocompatible cellulose aerogels using recycled cellulose fibers of paper waste and Kymene crosslinker is successfully developed for the first time. After coated with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) via chemical vapor deposition, the recycled cellulose aerogels yields very stable super-hydrophobicity for over five months and excellent oil absorption capacities of up to 95 g g−1 with the 0.25 wt.% cellulose aerogel. Effects of different cellulose fiber concentrations, different ratios of the cellulose and Kymene cross-linker composition, ambient temperatures and pH values of the environment on the oil absorption behavior of the cellulose aerogels are also quantified comprehensively. The experimental results show the cellulose aerogels yield the maximum absorption capacity at 50 °C. Compared to the pseudo first-order model, the pseudo second-order model is more validated for the oil absorption kinetics study. The recycled cellulose aerogels are promising for replacing earth-unfriendly polymer-based oil sorbents due to their high oil absorption capacities.