Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Aerogel Composites with and without Crude Oil Filling

Aerogels are an excellent alternative to traditional oil absorbents and are designed to remove oil or organic solvents from water. Cellulose-based aerogels can be distinguished as polymers that are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and biodegradable. The compression measurement properties of aerogels are often evaluated using dry samples. Here, oil-soaked, hydrophobized cellulose aerogel samples were examined in comparison to dry samples with and without additional hemp fibers and various levels of starch for crosslinking. The samples were characterized by compression measurement properties and filmed to evaluate the regeneration of the sorbent with repeated use. Overall, the measurements of the mechanical properties for the dry samples showed good reproducibility. The Young’s modulus of samples with additional hemp fibers is significantly increased and also shows higher strength than samples without hemp fibers. However, samples without hemp fibers showed slightly better relaxation after compression. Oil acts as a weak plasticizer for all aerogel samples. However, it is important to note that the oil does not cause the samples to decompose in the way unmodified cellulose aerogels do in water. Therefore, using hydrophobized cellulose aerogels as sorbents for oil in a sea or harbor with swell means that they can be collected in their entirety even after use.