Modifications and applications of aerogel prepared with waste palm leaf cellulose in adsorptions for oily contaminations

Abstract

Abstract Aerogels are essential and effective materials for oily pollution adsorption and recovery. This work described a hydrophobic modified cellulose aerogel using waste palm leaf and its oil adsorption mechanism. By chemical vapor deposition, Methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) was employed as a hydrophobic modifier for aerogel of waste palm leaf cellulose at 80 °C for 5 h, and the modified aerogel demonstrated exceptional and stable hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 132.4° that can still be maintained above 120° after two months of air exposure. After 10 adsorption and extrusion cycles, kerosene adsorption capacity can still reach over 18 times its weight with good regeneration and reuse performance. The kinetic analysis found that the pseudo-second order model was more appropriate for the aerogel’s oil absorption process, including mainly physical adsorption at the beginning and the following chemical adsorption. Owing to its low cost, hydrophobicity, high absorption capacity, and favorable reusability, this aerogel is expected to be used in oils, organic solvent spill cleanup, and oil/water separation fields.