Microstructure Characterization and Oil Absorption Performance of Superhydrophobic Cotton Cellulose Aerogel

Superhydrophobic cotton cellulose (CC) aerogel was prepared from budget cotton with huge output. CC aerogels were synthesized by using commercial cotton extract as a precursor through the nano-self-assembly process, CO₂ supercritical drying process, and vapor deposition. Typical, uniform hydrophobic CC aerogel structure can be confirmed by several characterization techniques. Maximum specific surface areas before and after modification are 213.80 m²·g⁻¹ and 184.33 m²·g⁻¹ with average pore sizes at 14.01 nm and 32.56 nm. The water contact angle is up to 153°, showing its superhydrophobic property. The maximum adsorption efficiency can be up to 16.0 g·g⁻¹, which exhibits excellent cycling property after 5 adsorption tests. The oil absorption mechanism of the superhydrophobic CC aerogels is investigated in detail as well. This superhydrophobic CC aerogel has excellent adsorption performance and simple, rapid, effective oil contamination treatment which has promising applications in the field of oil adsorption and water remediation in oil adsorption.