Hydrophobic Microfibrillated Cellulose Aerogels via Dual-Silane Modification for Sustainable Oil Spill Recovery.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Fluminense Federal University, R. Passo da Pátria, 156 - Sala 235 - Bloco E, São Domingos, Niterói24210-240, RJ, Brazil.
- 2Department of Biochemical Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Sala 3, Av. Horácio Macedo, 2030, Cidade Universitária - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro21941-909, Brazil.
- 3Department of Naval Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Athos Silveira, 149 - CT - Bl, C - Sala 207, Cidade Universitária - Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro21945-970, Brazil.
- 4Department of Mechanical Engineering, Fluminense Federal University, Rua Passo da Pátria, 156 Bl. D, Campus da Praia Vermelha, Niterói24210-240, RJ, Brazil.
- 5Department of Analytical Chemistry, Fluminense Federal University, Outeiro São João Batista, sn, Campus do Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói24020-140, RJ, Brazil.
Abstract
Oil spills in marine waters threaten sensitive ecosystems. This highlights the need for effective cleanup methods. While cellulose-based aerogels absorb oil effectively, improving their water resistance without compromising their eco-friendliness remains essential. This study aims to produce hydrophobic aerogels by combining methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS) to create a hierarchical surface with low surface energy and high hydrophobicity. The goal is to modify them and compare their performance with bleached and brown microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). The resulting aerogels have water contact angles of 133.68° ± 1.16° and show excellent selective oil absorption. The bleached MFC aerogel has absorption capacities of 20.2 g g-1 for cooking oil, 15.6 g g-1 for diesel, and 13.3 g g-1 for petroleum, with low water absorption of 5.2 g g-1. In comparison, the brown MFC aerogel performs similarly, absorbing 17.1 g g-1 for cooking oil, 14.9 g g-1 for diesel, and 12.4 g g-1 for petroleum, with even lower water absorption (0.5 g g-1). These renewable MFC aerogels selectively take up oil from oil-water systems and provide a laboratory-scale basis for further evaluation in remediation settings such as Guanabara Bay.
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BibTeX
@article{ramirez2026hydrophobic,
title = {{Hydrophobic Microfibrillated Cellulose Aerogels via Dual-Silane Modification for Sustainable Oil Spill Recovery.}},
author = {Ninoska Isabel Bojorge Ramirez and Isabela Rosa Marchette and Bárbara Cristina Rodrigues and Eliana Mosse Alhadeff and Marta Cecilia Tapia Reyes and Ruan Stevan de Almeida Ribeiro and Troner Assenheimer de Souza and Juan Manuel Pardal and Felipe Silva Semaan},
journal = {Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acs.langmuir.6c03349},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899851},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Hydrophobic Microfibrillated Cellulose Aerogels via Dual-Silane Modification for Sustainable Oil Spill Recovery.
AU - Ninoska Isabel Bojorge Ramirez
AU - Isabela Rosa Marchette
AU - Bárbara Cristina Rodrigues
AU - Eliana Mosse Alhadeff
AU - Marta Cecilia Tapia Reyes
AU - Ruan Stevan de Almeida Ribeiro
AU - Troner Assenheimer de Souza
AU - Juan Manuel Pardal
AU - Felipe Silva Semaan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
DO - 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6c03349
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42899851
AB - Oil spills in marine waters threaten sensitive ecosystems. This highlights the need for effective cleanup methods. While cellulose-based aerogels absorb oil effectively, improving their water resistance without compromising their eco-friendliness remains essential. This study aims to produce hydrophobic aerogels by combining methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS) to create a hierarchical surface with low surface energy and high hydrophobicity. The goal is to modify them and compare their performance with bleached and brown microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). The resulting aerogels have water contact angles of 133.68° ± 1.16° and show excellent selective oil absorption. The bleached MFC aerogel has absorption capacities of 20.2 g g-1 for cooking oil, 15.6 g g-1 for diesel, and 13.3 g g-1 for petroleum, with low water absorption of 5.2 g g-1. In comparison, the brown MFC aerogel performs similarly, absorbing 17.1 g g-1 for cooking oil, 14.9 g g-1 for diesel, and 12.4 g g-1 for petroleum, with even lower water absorption (0.5 g g-1). These renewable MFC aerogels selectively take up oil from oil-water systems and provide a laboratory-scale basis for further evaluation in remediation settings such as Guanabara Bay.
SN - 0743-7463
SN - 1520-5827
ER -