Natural microfibrils/regenerated cellulose-based carbon aerogel for highly efficient oil/water separation

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2023-07, Vol.454, p.131397-131397, Article 131397
• Main Authors: Ma, Xiang, Zhou, Shuang, Li, Junting, Xie, Fei, Yang, Hui, Wang, Cheng, Fahlman, Bradley D., Li, Wenjiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cellulose carbon aerogel; Deep eutectic solvent; NMMO; Oil/water separation; Superhydrophobicity
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131397

Cellulose-based carbon aerogels as biodegradable and renewable biomass materials have presented potential applications in oil/water separation. Herein, a novel carbon aerogel composed of natural microfibrils/regenerated cellulose (NM/RCA) was directly prepared by economical hardwood pulp as raw material using a novel co-solvent composed of deep eutectic solvent (DES) and N-methyl morpholine-N-oxide monohydrate (NMMO·H2O). In addition, the morphology and structure of the filiform natural microfibers could be remained after carbonized at 400 ℃, which resulted in a low density (8–10 mg cm−3), high specific surface area (768.89 m2 g−1) and high sorption capability. In addition, the aerogel exhibited high compressibility, outstanding elasticity, excellent fatigue resistance, and recyclability (80.5% height recovery after repeating 100 cycles at the strain of 80%). Due to the morphology and composition of the carbonized microfiber surface, the superhydrophobic materials with a water contact angle of 151.5°, could sorb various oils and organic solvents with 65–133 times its own weight and maintain 91.9% sorption capacity after 25 cycles. In addition, the aerogels could achieve the continuous separation of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) from water with a high flux rate of 11,718.8 L m−2 h−1. Therefore, our prepared NM/RCA aerogels are anticipated to have broad potential applications in oil purification and contaminant remediation. [Display omitted] •Natural microfibrils/regenerated cellulose carbon aerogels are fabricated.•The natural cellulose fibers are fixed by lamellar regenerated cellulose.•The excellent sorption capacity of NM/RCA for oil is up to 65.4–131 g g−1.•NM/RCA shows high separation efficiency of oil/water mixture ≥ 99.94%.