Versatile superhydrophobic magnetic biomass aerogel for oil/water separation and removal of multi-class emerging pollutants

Water resources contamination by both oil and microplastics (MPs) stands as a pressing environmental concern. To tackle this challenge, we have devised a superhydrophobic magnetic biomass aerogel, synthesized from PDMS-modified carbonized ZIF-67/chitosan (PDMS@CZIF-67/CS). This aerogel exhibits remarkable proficiency in effecting oil/water separation and adsorbing a wide range of emerging pollutants, owing to its inherent superhydrophobicity, stability, and self-cleaning capabilities. Furthermore, the aerogel demonstrates efficient absorption of viscous oils and facilitates self-driven oil absorption through the synergistic photothermal conversion and magnetic properties of CZIF-67, respectively. Following ten consecutive separation cycles, the aerogel consistently upholds its efficacy in oil/water separation, regardless of the employed method, be it gravity-driven or facilitated by a peristaltic pump. Notably, the PDMS@CZIF-67/CS aerogel manifests a high adsorption capacity for various emerging pollutants, specifically MPs, achieving an almost complete adsorption efficiency. This paper introduces an innovative, eco-friendly approach aimed at mitigating oil-contaminated wastewater and emerging pollutants, highlighting its potential for widespread application.