Cellulose-based Aerogels Research Articles

Amino acid functionalized carboxymethyl cellulose-based crosslinked aerogels for efficient removal of dye and metal ion from aqueous solution

In order to protect water resources and maintain sustainable development of society, it is crucial to design the adsorption materials with high adsorption capacity and environmental friendliness to effectively remove the pollutants in wastewater. In this study, amino acid functionalized carboxymethyl cellulose-based aerogels were successfully prepared by combining grafting, blending, freeze-drying and crosslinking technologies. The aerogels exhibited outstanding adsorption properties for methylene blue (MB) and lead ions (Pb (II)) with adsorption capacities of 461.68 and 304.60 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption experiment showed that the adsorption process of aerogels for MB conformed to Freundlich adsorption isotherm model and quasi-second-order kinetics model, and the adsorption process for Pb (II) conformed to Langmuir model and quasi-second-order kinetics model. Furthermore, the aerogels displayed excellent recyclability, with the removal efficiency of over 90.0 % for MB and only 14.0 % reduction for Pb (II) after 6 cycles. It is evident that the aerogels hold great potential for application in wastewater treatment, which has important practical significance for environmental protection and high-value utilization of natural polymers.

Spectrally selective and thermally insulating hybrid nanofiber aerogel coolers for building energy conservation

With the advancement of worldwide carbon neutralization, passive radiative cooling (PRC) has attracted tremendous interest in energy conservation by dissipating heat into the ultracold outer space without any electricity consumption. Despite some progress has been made in tailoring spectral properties for PRC, it still remains a crucial challenge in fabricating efficient and low-cost coolers for building energy saving. Herein, hierarchical cellulose-based aerogel coolers consisting of beads-on-string structural electrospun nanofibers are manufactured for all-day and all-region energy saving by combining radiative cooling and thermal insulation in one design. The hierarchically porous architectures and well-designed chemical compositions endow the aerogels with strong solar reflectance (∼0.974), high mid-infrared emittance (∼0.985), and ultra-low thermal conductivity (0.0285 W (m K)−1), achieving a sub-ambient cooling of ∼8.24 °C during the daytime and ∼7.41 °C during the nighttime. The aerogels also exhibit exceptional compressive resiliency, anti-aging, and self-cleaning properties, promising for durable cooling under harsh conditions. The building energy simulations show that about 23.1 kWh m−2 of the total energy consumption per year can be saved if the aerogel coolers are widely deployed as building envelopes in China. This work provides new perspectives for the development of advanced aerogel coolers for future energy saving applications.

Hemp cellulose-based aerogels and cryogels: From waste biomass to sustainable absorbent pads for food preservation

This study presents a circular economy approach utilizing hemp stems and rice straw, typically perceived as low-value agricultural waste, to develop a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic absorbent pads for food packaging. The development of an active material was achieved through the utilization of hemp cellulose and a bioactive extract isolated from rice straw. In addition to reducing plastic pollution, this material demonstrates the potential to enhance food preservation. This research provides evidence of the benefits of repurposing agricultural by-products to create valuable and environmentally-friendly products. Hemp cellulose was extracted, characterized, and processed to develop stable aerogels and cryogels through supercritical CO2 drying and freeze-drying. The water stability and internal structure of the materials were guided via TEMPO-mediated oxidation and high-pressure homogenization. Both materials showed versatile physicochemical and mechanical properties. Nevertheless, with higher water sorption (2.20 mL/g), minimal dimensional changes, and lower shrinkage, cryogels were suitable for meat absorbent pad application. To enhance the cryogels functionality, they were impregnated with a rice straw bioactive extract in two different concentrations. The incorporation of the extract did not affect the structure of the cryogels, improved their mechanical properties and the antioxidant activity remained stable after drying (63.89–78.96 %). Finally, the performance of the developed materials was compared to commercial plastic pads and pristine meat preservation challenge test during 9 days at refrigeration conditions. The incorporation of rice straw extract improved meat color preservation. While moderate extract concentrations (75 mg/g) showed a protective effect against lipid oxidation, higher levels (187.5 mg/g) induced pro-oxidant reactions. This research highlights the potential of hemp cellulose-based cryogels as sustainable and functional packaging materials for meat products.

One-pot fabrication of hydrophobic, superelastic, harakeke-derived nanocellulose aerogels with excellent shape recovery for oil adsorption and water-in-oil emulsion separation

Cellulose-based aerogels have attracted significant attention for oil/water separation due to their high porosity, large specific surface area and high adsorption capacity. However, their intrinsic hydrophilicity, and inadequate mechanical properties have often limited their practical applications. Traditional freeze-dried cellulose aerogels exhibit unsatisfactory elasticity and require a separate surface modification process to adjust the surface wettability. In this study, we present a novel one-pot fabrication strategy which simultaneously achieves the crosslinking of individual cellulose nanofibers and the hydrophobic modification of the surface wettability. Following directional freeze-drying, hydrophobic, superelastic, and anisotropic cellulose-based aerogel was prepared from the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers, isolated from harakeke (New Zealand native flax). The resulting aerogel exhibits a high water contact angle of 142°, good compressive recovery performance (85 % recovery of the original height after 100 compression cycles at 70 % strain), and outstanding adsorption capacity for various types of oil and organic solvents (80–105 g/g). Furthermore, the aerogel could also be used as a filter to separate surfactant stabilized water-in-oil emulsions with a high flux (782 L m−2 h−1) and a high separation efficiency (98.7–99.2 %). The novel aerogel prepared in this study is expected to have great potential for practical applications in oily wastewater remediation.

Cellulose-Based Aerogels for Sustainable Dye Removal: Advances and Prospects

Cellulose-Based Aerogels for Sustainable Dye Removal: Advances and Prospects

Construction of bilayer cellulose-based aerogel with salt-resistant design for efficient solar desalination and wastewater purification

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) technology, which utilizes green and renewable solar energy to produce clean water, has shown great potential in alleviating global water scarcity. However, practical applications still face numerous challenges, including salt crystallization precipitation and accumulation, low energy utilization, and complex preparation processes. Hence, We designed a vertically ordered porous bilayer aerogel based on nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) with excellent salt resistance, light absorption and local thermal effects to achieve efficient solar steam generation. Specifically, the photothermal conversion layer (PCL) at the top had excellent light absorption and photothermal conversion efficiency by introducing graphene oxide (GO) as a highly efficient photothermal material. The water transport layer (WTL) at the bottom ensured a stable water supply to the evaporation layer by virtue of the vertical water transfer path and inherent hydrophilicity, and effectively prevented formation of salts in the evaporation area. In addition, the designed aerogel had a low thermal conductivity, which achieved effective thermal insulation and further enhanced the localized heating effect. This superhydrophilic bilayer aerogel achieved a high evaporation rate of 1.9596 kg m−2 h−1 and an energy conversion efficiency of 92.28% under one solar irradiation. It is noteworthy that evaporation process exhibited excellent stability during 8 h of continuous evaporation in 20 wt% brine and no salt accumulation was observed on the evaporated surface. In addition, the bilayer aerogel demonstrated excellent long-term stability and self-cleaning. Meanwhile, its excellent anti-contamination and wastewater treatment capabilities give SDIE technology a stable and continuous operation in practical applications, thus demonstrating significant application potential.

Cellulose-based aerogels, films, and fibers for advanced biomedical applications

Cellulose possesses hydrophilicity, high water retention capacity, excellent mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, making it a promising candidate material for biomedical applications. As a substrate and dispersant used in the preparation of aerogels, films, and fibers, it improves their moisturizing ability, water absorption, drug utilization and slows down the rate of drug release, demonstrating outstanding therapeutic effects in biomedical research. This review summarizes and discusses the latest advancements in the application of cellulose-based aerogels, films, and fibers in the biomedical field. First, the properties of cellulose and its application principles in biomedical materials are analyzed. Second, the methods for preparing cellulose-based aerogels, films, and fibers are summarized, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Then, the latest research progress of cellulose-based aerogels, films, and fibers in drug delivery, wound dressings, and tissue engineering scaffolds is reviewed. Finally, the review concludes with a summary and provides future development directions for the field.

3D cellulose scaffold with gradient pore structure controlled by hydrogen bond competition: Super-strength and multifunctional oil/water separation

Cellulose-based aerogels offer exceptional promise for oily wastewater treatment, but the challenge of low mechanical strength and limited application functions persists. Inspired by the graded porous structures in the animal skeleton and bamboo stem, we firstly report here a stepwise solvent diffusion-induced phase separation approach for constructing the gradient pore-density three-dimensional (3D) cellulose scaffold (GPDS). Benefiting from the regulation of competitive hydrogen bonding between the anti-solvents and the ionic liquid (IL) in cellulose solution, GPDS exhibits the decreased major channels size and increased minor pores amount gradually along the solvent diffusion direction. These endow GPDS with the characteristics of low density (0.019 g/cm) and super strength (high up to 870 KPa). The application of GPDS in the field of oil-water separation has achieved remarkable results, including oil/organic solvent absorption (13–25 g/gGPDS), immiscible oil-water mixture separation (high efficiency up to 99.8 %, flux > 2000 L/m2·h), and surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion (efficiency up to 97.7 %). Moreover, a simple hydrophobic treatment further realizes the efficient separation of water-in-oil emulsion (98.5 % efficiency). The as-fabricated GPDS accordingly achieves the multifunctional application in oil-water separation field. Thus, a new avenue is opened to construct 3D cellulose porous scaffold as adsorbent materials in oily wastewater treatment.

Integrated design of multifunctional lightweight magnetic cellulose-based aerogel with 1D/2D/3D hierarchical network for efficient microwave absorption

Developing electromagnetic wave absorption materials that are both multifunctional and high-performance, while using rational dimensional design and component strategies, remains extremely challenging. Herein, multidimensional, gradient porous, electrically, and magnetically conductive carbon nanocellulose aerogels composed of nanocellulose and highly oriented Ni chains are prepared through freeze-drying and subsequent low-temperature annealing. Interestingly, the Ni/CNCA composite achieves exceptional microwave absorption with a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value of −62.0 dB and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6 GHz, covering the entire Ku-band. The superior electromagnetic wave absorption stems from 1D/2D/3D double-supported interpenetrating network with satisfactory impedance matching, dielectric/magnetic losses, interface/dipole polarization, and multiple/reflection scattering. Furthermore, the Ni/CNCA exhibits a low density, excellent mechanical adaptability, hydrophobicity, and corrosion resistance. This work introduces innovative approaches for developing lightweight, multifunctional microwave absorbers for practical applications.

Fully biobased thermal insulating aerogels with superior fire-retardant and mechanical properties

Biomass-based aerogels offer a promising potential as alternatives to plastic-based foams for thermal insulation applications. However, their inherent flammability has hindered their practical usage. In this work, we addressed this issue by employing a layer-by-layer assembly technique to deposit two oppositely charged biobased materials, namely phytic acid and chitosan, onto a fully biobased aerogel system. These aerogels were fabricated using cellulose filaments and chitosan and cross-linked with citric acid, resulting in a mechanically robust 3D structure. The synergistic effects of phytic acid and chitosan in the layer-by-layer deposited aerogels significantly enhanced their fire resistance and mechanical strength. The developed aerogel with six bilayer depositions (LBL6), showed an outstanding peak heat release rate (pHRR) of 6.0 kW.m−2, and total heat release (THR) of 0.4 MJ.m−2, substantially lower than the previously developed cellulose-based aerogels and foams. LBL6 also demonstrated immediate self-extinguishing behaviour, boasting an impressive limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 63 %, which is the highest reported for a biobased aerogel. Furthermore, the developed aerogels exhibited a superior Young’s modulus of up to 4.5 MPa, surpassing previously developed flame-retardant aerogels. Additionally, they excelled in thermal insulation properties, with a thermal conductivity of less than 38.2 mW·m−1·K−1, placing them in the same range as, or even lower than, commercially available thermal insulators. Given the simplicity of the aerogel development process and the well-known advantages of a completely biobased system, our developed aerogels present a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to current commercial thermal insulators that are derived from petroleum-based materials.

Synthesis strategies, regeneration, cost analysis, challenges and future prospects of bacterial cellulose-based aerogels for water treatment: A review

Clean water is an integral part of industries, agricultural activities and human life, but water contamination by toxic dyes, heavy metals, and oil spills is increasingly serious in the world. Aerogels with unique properties such as highly porous and extremely low density, tunable surface modification, excellent reusability, and thermal stability can contribute to addressing these issues. Thanks to high purity, biocompatibility and biodegradability, bacterial cellulose can be an ideal precursor source to produce aerogels. Here, we review the modification, regeneration, and applications of bacterial cellulose-based aerogels for water treatment. The modification of bacterial cellulose-based aerogels undergoes coating of hydrophobic agents, carbonization, and incorporation with other materials, e.g., ZIF-67, graphene oxide, nanoparticles, polyaniline. We emphasized features of modified aerogels on porosity, hydrophobicity, density, surface chemistry, and regeneration. Although major limits are relevant to the use of toxic coating agents, difficulty in bacterial culture, and production cost, the bacterial cellulose aerogels can obtain high performance for water treatment, particularly, catastrophic oil spills.

Supramolecular cross-linking affords superelastic and fatigue-resistant cellulose-based nanocomposites with excellent thermomechanical properties and waterproofing performance

Nanocellulose is one of the most abundant renewable resources on earth and is used in many applications due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, and it is an important biopolymer raw material to support human well-being. However, current cellulose-based aerogel nanocomposites are plagued by irreconcilable contradictions between thermomechanical and waterproofing characteristics due to their hygroscopicity. Herein, sustainable insulating cellulose aerogel nanocomposites are prepared from tempo-oxidized bamboo cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with a continuous orientation-free pore architecture formed by CNFs/PVA pre-hydrogel aggregates, which combine to become the basic structural unit for producing superelastic properties. The resulting lightweight CNFs/PVA aerogels (CNPA) with a hierarchical orientation-free pore architecture and density about 5–20 kg m3 achieve an optimal thermomechanical and insulation trade-off, demonstrating temperature-invariant compressibility (–100–500 ℃) and a low thermal conductivity of 38.2 mW m–1 K–1 at 300 ℃. Particularly, the flyweight CNPA retained its structural integrity after more than 106 cycles at ɛ=20 %, 105 cycles at ɛ=50 %, and 104 cycles at ɛ=80 %. Furthermore, CNPA also exhibits robust liquid-repellency with a WCA exceeding 160.3°. This lightweight cellulose-based nanocomposites, although constructed using an intrinsically hygroscopicity nanocellulose-constituent, is simultaneously superelastic, fatigue-resistant, thermomechanical, and waterproofing performance.

Cellulose-based aerogel derived N, B-co-doped porous biochar for high-performance CO2 capture and supercapacitor

The remarkable characteristics of porous biochar have generated significant interest in various fields, such as CO2 capture and supercapacitors. The modification of aerogel-derived porous biochar through activation and heteroatomic doping can effectively enhance CO2 adsorption and improve supercapacitor performance. In this study, a novel N, B-co-doped porous biochar (NBCPB) was synthesized by carbonating and activating the N, B dual-doped cellulose aerogel. N and B atoms were doped in-situ using a modified alkali-urea method. The potassium citrate was served as both an activator and a salt template to facilitate the formation of a well-developed nanostructure. The optimized NBCPB-650-1 (where 650 corresponded to activation temperature and 1 represented mass ratio of potassium citrate activator to carbonized NBCPB-400 precursor) displayed the largest micropore volume of 0.40 cm3·g−1 and a high specific surface area of 891 m2·g−1, which contributed to an excellent CO2 adsorption capacity of 4.19 mmol·g−1 at 100 kPa and 25 °C, a high CO2/N2 selectivity, and exceptional reusability (retained >97.5 % after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles). Additionally, the NBCPB-650-1 electrode also delivered a high capacitance of 220.9 F·g−1 at 1 A·g−1. Notably, the symmetrical NBCPB-650-1 supercapacitor exhibited a high energy density of 9 Wh·kg−1 at the power density of 100 W·kg−1. This study not only presents the potential application of NBCPB-650-1 material in CO2 capture and electrochemical energy storage, but also offers a new insight into easy-to-scale production of heteroatomic-modified porous biochar.

Green Strong Cornstalk Rind-Based Cellulose-PVA Aerogel for Oil Adsorption and Thermal Insulation.

Cellulose-based aerogel has attracted considerable attention for its excellent adsorption capacity, biodegradability, and renewability. However, it is considered eco-unfriendly due to defibrillation of agriculture waste and requires harmful/expensive chemical agents. In this study, cornstalk rind-based aerogel was obtained via the following steps: green H2O2/HAc delignification of cornstalk rind to obtain cellulose fibers, binding with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and freeze-drying treatment, and hydrophobic modification with stearic acid. The obtained aerogel showed high compressive strength (200 KPa), which is apparently higher (about 32 kPa) than NaClO-delignified cornstalk-based cellulose/PVA aerogel. Characterization of the obtained aerogel through SEM, water contact angle, etc., showed high porosity (95%), low density (0.0198 g/cm-3), and hydrophobicity (water contact angle, 159°), resulting in excellent n-hexane adsorption capacity (35 g/g), higher (about 29.5 g/g) than NaClO-delignified cornstalk-based cellulose/PVA aerogel. The adsorbed oil was recovered by the extrusion method, and the aerogel showed excellent recyclability in oil adsorption.

Facile fabrication of microfibrillated cellulose-based aerogels incorporated with nisin/β-cyclodextrin microcapsule for channel catfish preservation

In this study, a hydrophobic and antibacterial pad was prepared to preserve Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). The pad composite the microfibrillated cellulose and β-cyclodextrin/nisin microcapsules. The hydrophobic pad ensures a dry surface in contact with the fish, reducing microbial contamination. The pad has a low density and high porosity, making it lightweight and suitable for packaging applications, while also providing a large surface area for antibacterial activity. Results demonstrated that this antibacterial pad exhibits an ultralow density of 9.0 mg/cm3 and an ultrahigh porosity of 99.10%. It can extend the shelf life of Channel Catfish fillets to 9 days at 4 °C, with a total volatile base nitrogen below 20 mg/100 g. The study proposes a novel solution for preserving aquatic products by combining antibacterial substances with the natural base material aerogel. This approach also extends the utilization of aerogel and nisin in food packaging.

Hierarchical aerogels based on cellulose nanofibers and long-chain polymers for enhancing oil–water separation efficiency

The hydrophobic chain length of biomass-based aerogels used for oil–water separation was evaluated as a major parameter influencing the aerogels’ hydrophobicity. The properties of the porous structure were enhanced by the hierarchical assembly of the aerogels with biopolymeric structural units and polymer mineralization. The cellulose network was strengthened through silanization, and the nanocellulose network was further enhanced through coating with mineralizers containing long-chain hydrophobic molecules. Interfacial engineering was employed to establish multiscale interactions through the freeze-drying-induced modification of cellulose nanofibers and mineralized coatings of long-chain alkyl polymers. The resulting hierarchically structured aerogel exhibits low density (11.4 kg/m3), excellent mechanical compression properties across a wide temperature range (capable of enduring 100 cycles of compression), high porosity (99.2%), superhydrophobicity (152°), and recyclability. It maintains a 57.9% adsorption rate even after 40 adsorption–desorption tests, while also preserving its shape integrity. Moreover, it can be recycled and reused. At a temperature of 700 °C, the mass loss was only 44.47%, with excellent thermal stability. The aerogel can reduce oil pollutants in the ocean by adsorption, recover oil resources, and protect the natural environment. The assembly and optimization of nanofibrous matrix interfaces through the mineralization of long-chain polymers enhanced the performance of functionalized cellulose-based aerogels.

Asymmetric self-powered cellulose-based aerogel for moisture-electricity generation and humidity sensing

In view of the current problems of fossil consumption and environmental pollution, harvesting electricity from water to obtain renewable and clean energy has become a trend. Herein, an asymmetric self-powered cellulose-based aerogel generator (SMEG) was proposed by directional freeze-drying using quaternized cellulose nanofibril (Q-CNF), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and single-walled carbon nanotube. When exposed to humid air, the prepared aerogel generated ionic ionization and directional flow, resulting in a potential difference. The single SMEG could separately produce a continuous voltage and current output of up to 668 mV and 6.4 μA, accompanied by a power density of 0.871 μW⋅cm−2 at high humidity (90 %). Meanwhile, connecting several SMEG devices could directly provide satisfied power for some commercial electronics including LED lights and calculators. More importantly, it was compatible for applications in contactless sensing and respiratory monitoring with high moisture sensitivity and good durability. This work provides a low-cost and environmentally friendly strategy for the optimal design of moisture-electricity generators and self-powered humidity sensors.

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.

High capacity and selective adsorption of Congo red by cellulose-based aerogel with mesoporous structure: Adsorption properties and statistical data simulation

Large quantities of organic dyes are discharged into the environment, causing serious damage to the ecosystem. Therefore, it is urgent to develop inexpensive adsorbents to remove organic dyes. A novel cellulose-based aerogel (MPPA) with 3D porous structure was prepared by using cassava residue (cellulose) as basic construction blocks, doping ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) for magnetic separation, and applying polyethyleneimine (PEI) as functional material for highly efficient and selective capture of Congo red (CR). MPPA exhibited porous network structure, numerous active capture sites, nontoxicity, high hydrophilicity, and excellent thermal stability. MPPA showed superior adsorption property for CR, with an equilibrium adsorption capacity of 2018.14 mg/g, and still had an adsorption property of 1189.31 mg/g after five recycling procedures. In addition, MPPA has excellent selectivity for CR in four binary dye systems. The adsorption behavior of MPPA on CR was further explored using a multilayer adsorption model, EDR-IDR hybrid model and AOAS model. Electrostatic potential and independent gradient models were used to further verify the possible interaction between MPPA and CR molecules. In conclusion, MPPA is a promising adsorbent in the field of treating anionic dyes.

Optimizing the synthesis conditions of aerogels based on cellulose fiber extracted from rambutan peel using response surface methodology

<p>A cellulose-based aerogel has been synthesized from rambutan peel to mitigate environmental pollution caused by agricultural waste, rendering it an eco-friendly material with potential applications in oil spill remediation as well as enhancing the value of this fruit. The objective of this study was to extract cellulose from rambutan peel using chlorination and alkalization processes, followed by optimizing the synthesis conditions of cellulose-based aerogels from rambutan peel through experimental designs to improve oil removal efficiency. In this research, cellulose-based aerogel material was synthesized using the sol-gel method, utilizing waste from rambutan peel as the substrate and polyvinyl alcohol as the cross-linking agent, followed by freeze-drying. A central composite design with 30 different experimental setups was employed to investigate the influence of cellulose content (1.0–2.0%), cross-linking agent (polyvinyl alcohol) content (0.1–0.3%), ultrasonic time (5–15 min), and ultrasonic power (100–300W) on the oil adsorption capacity (g/g) of cellulose-based aerogels from rambutan peel. The research findings demonstrated successful extraction of cellulose from rambutan peel through chlorination, followed by softening with 17.5% (w/v) sodium hydroxide. Response surface plots indicated that maximizing the cellulose component could lead to a maximum diesel oil adsorption capacity of up to 52.301 g/g. Cellulose-based aerogel exhibits ultra-lightweight properties (0.027±0.002 g/cm<sup>3</sup>), high porosity (97.88±0.19), hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 152.7°), and superior oil selective adsorption compared to several commercially available materials in the market, demonstrating promising potential for application in treating oil-contaminated water in real-world scenarios.</p>