Featherlight, Mechanically Robust Cellulose Ester\nAerogels for Environmental Remediation

Abstract

A unique combination\nof well-established synthesis procedures involving\nchemical cross-linking, careful solvent exchange to water, and subsequent\nfreeze drying is used to produce ultralight (4.3 mg/mL) and highly\nporous (99.7%) cellulose diacetate (CDA) aerogels with honeycomb morphology.\nThis versatile synthesis approach is extended to other nonaqueous\npolymers with hydroxyl functionalities such as cellulose acetate propionate\nand cellulose acetate butyrate to produce a single component polymer\naerogel. These aerogels demonstrate a maximum water and oil uptake\nof up to 92 and 112 g/g, respectively. The honeycomb morphology provides\na maximum compression strain of 92% without failure and reaches a\ncompressive stress of 350 kPa, for 4 w/v % CDA aerogels (4%), which\nis higher than that reported for cellulosic aerogels. The 4% CDA aerogel\nwere rendered hydrophobic and oleophilic via chemical vapor deposition\nwith organosilane. The modified CDA aerogel surpasses their counterparts\nin maintaining their mechanical integrity for fast oil cleanup and\nefficient oil retention from aqueous media under marine conditions.\nThese aerogels are identified to be reusable and durable for a long\nperiod.