Influence of Starch Cross-Linking on the Performance of Cellulose Aerogels for Oil Spills Sorption

Oil spills represent a significant environmental threat due to the toxicity of hydrocarbons, particularly in aquatic environments where oil rapidly spreads across the surface. Sustainable sorbents are needed for an efficient and eco-friendly response to oil spills. Cellulose aerogels produced from r...

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Main Authors: Rafael Picazo Espinosa, Jochen Uebe, Marija Katarzyte, Tatjana Paulauskiene
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Gels
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/386
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author Rafael Picazo Espinosa
Jochen Uebe
Marija Katarzyte
Tatjana Paulauskiene
author_facet Rafael Picazo Espinosa
Jochen Uebe
Marija Katarzyte
Tatjana Paulauskiene
author_sort Rafael Picazo Espinosa
collection DOAJ
description Oil spills represent a significant environmental threat due to the toxicity of hydrocarbons, particularly in aquatic environments where oil rapidly spreads across the surface. Sustainable sorbents are needed for an efficient and eco-friendly response to oil spills. Cellulose aerogels produced from recycled paper and cardboard exhibit promising properties such as buoyancy, light weight, biocompatibility, and recyclability. Mechanical stability and reusability can be enhanced using cross-linkers such as starch. This study evaluated the impact of starch on cellulose aerogel morphology, sorption capacity for various petroleum products (crude oil, marine diesel, and lubricating oil), and reusability using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental mapping. Aerogels containing 0.5 and 1 wt% starch showed higher porosity, sorption capacity, and reusability. Starch did not affect hydrophobization or significantly alter nitrogen and carbon levels, indicating limited influence on surface chemistry and adsorption performance.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2310-2861
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publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Gels
spelling doaj-art-043df35742fd46b0ab4815490fcd37992025-08-20T02:20:57ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-05-0111638610.3390/gels11060386Influence of Starch Cross-Linking on the Performance of Cellulose Aerogels for Oil Spills SorptionRafael Picazo Espinosa0Jochen Uebe1Marija Katarzyte2Tatjana Paulauskiene3Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, H. Manto 84, 92294 Klaipeda, LithuaniaEngineering Department, Faculty of Marine Technology and Natural Sciences, Klaipeda University, Bijunu Str. 17, 91206 Klaipeda, LithuaniaMarine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, H. Manto 84, 92294 Klaipeda, LithuaniaEngineering Department, Faculty of Marine Technology and Natural Sciences, Klaipeda University, Bijunu Str. 17, 91206 Klaipeda, LithuaniaOil spills represent a significant environmental threat due to the toxicity of hydrocarbons, particularly in aquatic environments where oil rapidly spreads across the surface. Sustainable sorbents are needed for an efficient and eco-friendly response to oil spills. Cellulose aerogels produced from recycled paper and cardboard exhibit promising properties such as buoyancy, light weight, biocompatibility, and recyclability. Mechanical stability and reusability can be enhanced using cross-linkers such as starch. This study evaluated the impact of starch on cellulose aerogel morphology, sorption capacity for various petroleum products (crude oil, marine diesel, and lubricating oil), and reusability using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental mapping. Aerogels containing 0.5 and 1 wt% starch showed higher porosity, sorption capacity, and reusability. Starch did not affect hydrophobization or significantly alter nitrogen and carbon levels, indicating limited influence on surface chemistry and adsorption performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/386cellulose aerogelcross-linking agentstarchsorption capacityoil spillelement mapping
spellingShingle Rafael Picazo Espinosa
Jochen Uebe
Marija Katarzyte
Tatjana Paulauskiene
Influence of Starch Cross-Linking on the Performance of Cellulose Aerogels for Oil Spills Sorption
Gels
cellulose aerogel
cross-linking agent
starch
sorption capacity
oil spill
element mapping
title Influence of Starch Cross-Linking on the Performance of Cellulose Aerogels for Oil Spills Sorption
title_full Influence of Starch Cross-Linking on the Performance of Cellulose Aerogels for Oil Spills Sorption
title_fullStr Influence of Starch Cross-Linking on the Performance of Cellulose Aerogels for Oil Spills Sorption
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Starch Cross-Linking on the Performance of Cellulose Aerogels for Oil Spills Sorption
title_short Influence of Starch Cross-Linking on the Performance of Cellulose Aerogels for Oil Spills Sorption
title_sort influence of starch cross linking on the performance of cellulose aerogels for oil spills sorption
topic cellulose aerogel
cross-linking agent
starch
sorption capacity
oil spill
element mapping
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/386
work_keys_str_mv AT rafaelpicazoespinosa influenceofstarchcrosslinkingontheperformanceofcelluloseaerogelsforoilspillssorption
AT jochenuebe influenceofstarchcrosslinkingontheperformanceofcelluloseaerogelsforoilspillssorption
AT marijakatarzyte influenceofstarchcrosslinkingontheperformanceofcelluloseaerogelsforoilspillssorption
AT tatjanapaulauskiene influenceofstarchcrosslinkingontheperformanceofcelluloseaerogelsforoilspillssorption