Improvement in the Superhydrophobicity of Cellulose Aerogels Using Cationic Polymers

Abstract

In this study, a cross-linked cellulose aerogel was first prepared using a cellulose wet-gel treated with a mixture of cationic poly (aminoamide)-epichlorohydrin and vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer. Following this, a cross-linked superhydrophobic cellulose aerogel was successfully fabricated using a simplified silanization process. The silane-coated cellulose aerogel exhibited an excellent oil absorption capacity (18 to 65 times the dry weight of the cellulose aerogel) without water absorption, and the recovered dimensions of the cellulose aerogel after compression were improved via the cationic polymer treatment. This material, thus, exhibits great potential as an oil absorbent.