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Recycled cellulose–silica hybrid aerogel for effective oil adsorption: optimization and kinetics study

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Abstract

Hybrid recycled cellulose-silica (HRCSs) aerogels were successfully synthesized using three-dimensional cellular skeletons, Kymene cross-linker, and methyltrimethoxysilane-derived silica aerogels as filler through simple freeze-drying. The resultant HRCSs yield a stable superhydrophobic nature [water contact angle (WCA) of 163.4°±2.5, 160°±1.2, 168°±1.5] with the help of the silylation process by a functional group modification for 1, 2 and 4 wt% of cellulose in hybrid aerogel. The use of nanofibers enables the aerogel to possess a highly remarkable undeviating pore size distribution, superelasticity, and compressibility characteristics, while the inclusion of silica nanoparticles improved its oleophilic performance. Compared with non-biodegradable, low adsorption commercial polypropylene foam, the HRCS aerogel provides an excellent oil adsorption capacity within a data range of 31.67–48.25 g/g with 94% retention capacity and recyclable up to 10 number of cycles for various wt% of cellulose fiber concentration. The effect of different independent variables like the ratio of cellulose fiber concentration and Kymene composition, ambient temperature, and ethanol amounts are also quantified comprehensively. An optimized parameter of 1 wt% of cellulose concentration, 8 ml of Kymene, and 13 ml of ethanol achieves a maximum oil adsorption capacity of 48.78g/g. Moreover, the experimental values of 48.89 g/g of oil adsorption were observed with 2 wt% of cellulose concentration, 9 ml of Kymene, and 14 ml of ethanol. An adsorption kinetics model and isotherm study were also done for oil adsorption on hybrid aerogel. In a comparative analysis, the pseudo-second-order model is well authenticated for oil adsorption kinetics than the pseudo-first-order model. This extraordinary promising feature of recycled aerogel can be used as an alternative to hostile polymer-based oil absorbents due to its extraordinary oleophilic capacities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India

    Debabrata Panda & Krunal M Gangawane

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  1. Debabrata Panda
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  2. Krunal M Gangawane
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Correspondence to Krunal M Gangawane.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest and no funding was received for this work. Debabrata Panda was involved with experimental work, plotting, analysis, and writing the draft manuscript. The data will be made available on request.

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Panda, D., Gangawane, K.M. Recycled cellulose–silica hybrid aerogel for effective oil adsorption: optimization and kinetics study. Sādhanā 48, 110 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-023-02161-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-023-02161-9

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