Scalable fabrication of efficient and recycling wood residue-derived sponge for crude oil adsorption

Abstract

Fast, low-cost, and efficient technology for crude oil remediation is a challenge. Herein, we reported a wood residue-derived sponge immobilized with Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) via the delignification, high-speed dispersion and freeze-drying processes, which allows fast and efficient cleanup of crude oil spill with the assistance of solar irradiation. Magnetic wood residue-derived sponge (M-sponge) with uniformly distributed Fe 3 O 4 NPs exhibits excellent photothermal conversion effect and can adsorb 172.62 g g -1 of crude oil in the first 15 minutes. Meanwhile, the M-sponge with good magnetic property is easily recycled by an external magnet and keeps high crude oil uptake of 154 g g -1 at least 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. Combining with the light weight (9 g m -3 , porosity > 91%), none harmfully hydrophobic chemicals, synthesis simplicity, and abundant starting materials, M-sponge design represents a high-value utilization based on forestry waste in the field of crude-oil remediation and water treatment. • A solar-assisted self-heating magnetic sponge adsorbent is constructed. • M-sponge with high photothermal conversion efficiency exhibits the adsorption capacity up to 172.62 g g -1 for crude oil. • M-sponge can be recovered by magnet and shows adsorption attenuation less than 11% after 10 times recycling. • Without toxic chemical reagents addition, the raw materials are sustainable, abundant and low-cost.