Flame-retardant PDMS-coated nanocellulose aerogels via ambient-pressure drying for oil spill cleanup

Ambient-drying enables fabrication of superhydrophobic PDMS-PCNF aerogels. • The PDMS-PCNF aerogel exhibits a high oil absorption capacity (up to 66.83 g/g). • This facile approach exceptionally minimizes energy cost. • Inherent flame retardancy and rapid biodegradability ensure eco-friendly use. Superhydrophobic aerogels hold great promise for oil spill treatment, yet their practical use is often constrained by energy-intensive production, high costs, and limited biodegradability. We present a flame-retardant, superhydrophobic aerogel synthesized by phosphorylated cellulose nanofibers (PCNF) via energy-efficient ambient-pressure drying process. The nanofiber aerogel is dip-coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to achieve a robust porous network with high water contact angles (∼150°) and excellent compressive resilience (≥50% strain). The resulting PDMS-PCNF aerogel exhibits high oil absorption capacities (∼66 g/g for various oils) and maintains performance after repeated use. Additionally, the aerogel is inherently biodegradable and flame-resistant, enhancing its environmental compatibility. Crucially, this ambient-pressure drying strategy significantly reduces energy consumption and manufacturing costs compared to freeze-drying. This study offers a practical cost-effective strategy for eco-friendly oil spill cleanup and oil-water separation. Download: Download high-res image (171KB) Download: Download full-size image