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Nanocellulose nanocomposite aerogel towards efficient oil and organic solvent adsorption

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Abstract

In this work, in order to ameliorate the hydrophobic property and adsorption capacity of nanocellulose (NC) aerogel, the nanochitosan (NCS) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been introduced into the NC aerogel to construct the NC/NCS/rGO nanocomposite aerogel by a hydrothermal method combined with freeze-drying method. The optimal conditions including the effect of NC and NCS weight percentages for preparation of NC/NCS/rGO nanocomposite aerogel with good porous microstructures and excellent adsorption capacities have been evaluated. The results demonstrate that the NC/NCS/rGO nanocomposite aerogel produced under the fabrication condition of 0.1 wt% NCS and 0.05 wt% NC exhibits a very low density of 9.3 mg cm−3, a high hydrophobicity with a large water contact angle (115.26°) and the high adsorption capacities of 171.85 ± 3.02, 159.64 ± 1.83, 153.22 ± 2.92, 149.60 ± 6.26, 139.93 ± 3.69, 132.47 ± 3.45, 176.82 ± 4.66, 128.70 ± 0.69, and 120.34 ± 5.57 g g−1 to mineral oil, sesame oil, acetone, ethyl acetate, thiophene, pump oil, waste pump oil, kerosene, and ethyl alcohol, respectively. In addition, this aerogel adsorbent could efficiently and continuously remove/collect the oil from wastewater confirmed by a designed oil/water pump apparatus. As a consequence, this NC/NCS/rGO nanocomposite aerogel has a potential application in the oil and organic solvent adsorption.

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Funding

The authors are grateful for the support and funding from the Foundation of the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFA0204600) and Shanghai Rising Star Program (No. 19QA1409400). This work is supported by Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (19DZ2271500).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Hongbo Gu, Chong Gao & Xiaomin Zhou

  2. Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold, Ministry of Education, National Engineering Research Center for Advanced Polymer Processing Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    Xiaomin Zhou

  3. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Special Artificial Microstructure Materials and Technology, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Ai Du

  4. Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India

    Nithesh Naik

  5. Integrated Composites Lab (ICL), Department of Chemical &, Biomolecular Engineering University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37966, USA

    Zhanhu Guo

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  1. Hongbo Gu
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  3. Xiaomin Zhou
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Gu, H., Gao, C., Zhou, X. et al. Nanocellulose nanocomposite aerogel towards efficient oil and organic solvent adsorption. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 4, 459–468 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-021-00289-y

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