Advanced Aerogels for Water Remediation: Unraveling Their Potential in Fats, Oils, and Grease Sorption—A Comprehensive Review
The increasing contamination of water bodies by fats, oils, and grease (FOG) poses significant environmental and operational challenges, necessitating the development of advanced remediation technologies. Aerogels, with their ultra-lightweight structure, high porosity, and tunable surface chemistry,...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Gels |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/4/268 |
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| author | Adina-Elena Segneanu Dumitru-Daniel Herea Gabriela Buema Ionela Amalia Bradu Melinda Cepan Ioan Grozescu |
| author_facet | Adina-Elena Segneanu Dumitru-Daniel Herea Gabriela Buema Ionela Amalia Bradu Melinda Cepan Ioan Grozescu |
| author_sort | Adina-Elena Segneanu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing contamination of water bodies by fats, oils, and grease (FOG) poses significant environmental and operational challenges, necessitating the development of advanced remediation technologies. Aerogels, with their ultra-lightweight structure, high porosity, and tunable surface chemistry, have emerged as promising sorbents for efficient FOG removal. This comprehensive review explores recent advancements in aerogel materials, highlighting novel formulations, functional modifications, and nanotechnology integrations that enhance sorption capacity and reusability. It delves into the mechanistic aspects of FOG sorption, providing insights into how surface interactions and structural properties influence performance. The sustainability of aerogels is emphasized, particularly the use of bio-based and eco-friendly materials that align with green remediation strategies. A comparative analysis with conventional sorbents underscores the advantages of aerogels in terms of efficiency, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, real-world applications, including oil spill cleanup and wastewater treatment, are discussed alongside challenges, regulatory considerations, and future research directions. By offering a holistic perspective on the potential of aerogels in water remediation, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals seeking innovative and sustainable solutions for FOG management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-578371b263264effa4cb0efc411de554 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj-art-578371b263264effa4cb0efc411de5542025-08-20T03:13:49ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-04-0111426810.3390/gels11040268Advanced Aerogels for Water Remediation: Unraveling Their Potential in Fats, Oils, and Grease Sorption—A Comprehensive ReviewAdina-Elena Segneanu0Dumitru-Daniel Herea1Gabriela Buema2Ionela Amalia Bradu3Melinda Cepan4Ioan Grozescu5Department of Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Environmental Research, West University of Timişoara (ICAM–WUT), Oituz Street, 300086 Timişoara, RomaniaNational Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics, 15 Dimitrie Mangeron Avenue, 700050 Iaşi, RomaniaNational Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics, 15 Dimitrie Mangeron Avenue, 700050 Iaşi, RomaniaDepartment of Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Environmental Research, West University of Timişoara (ICAM–WUT), Oituz Street, 300086 Timişoara, RomaniaDepartment of Applied Chemistry and Engineering of Inorganic Compounds and the Environment, University Politehnica Timisoara, 2 Piata Victoriei, 300006 Timişoara, RomaniaDepartment of Applied Chemistry and Engineering of Inorganic Compounds and the Environment, University Politehnica Timisoara, 2 Piata Victoriei, 300006 Timişoara, RomaniaThe increasing contamination of water bodies by fats, oils, and grease (FOG) poses significant environmental and operational challenges, necessitating the development of advanced remediation technologies. Aerogels, with their ultra-lightweight structure, high porosity, and tunable surface chemistry, have emerged as promising sorbents for efficient FOG removal. This comprehensive review explores recent advancements in aerogel materials, highlighting novel formulations, functional modifications, and nanotechnology integrations that enhance sorption capacity and reusability. It delves into the mechanistic aspects of FOG sorption, providing insights into how surface interactions and structural properties influence performance. The sustainability of aerogels is emphasized, particularly the use of bio-based and eco-friendly materials that align with green remediation strategies. A comparative analysis with conventional sorbents underscores the advantages of aerogels in terms of efficiency, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, real-world applications, including oil spill cleanup and wastewater treatment, are discussed alongside challenges, regulatory considerations, and future research directions. By offering a holistic perspective on the potential of aerogels in water remediation, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals seeking innovative and sustainable solutions for FOG management.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/4/268aerogel materialswater remediationoil sorptionorganic solvents sorptionoil/water separation |
| spellingShingle | Adina-Elena Segneanu Dumitru-Daniel Herea Gabriela Buema Ionela Amalia Bradu Melinda Cepan Ioan Grozescu Advanced Aerogels for Water Remediation: Unraveling Their Potential in Fats, Oils, and Grease Sorption—A Comprehensive Review Gels aerogel materials water remediation oil sorption organic solvents sorption oil/water separation |
| title | Advanced Aerogels for Water Remediation: Unraveling Their Potential in Fats, Oils, and Grease Sorption—A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full | Advanced Aerogels for Water Remediation: Unraveling Their Potential in Fats, Oils, and Grease Sorption—A Comprehensive Review |
| title_fullStr | Advanced Aerogels for Water Remediation: Unraveling Their Potential in Fats, Oils, and Grease Sorption—A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advanced Aerogels for Water Remediation: Unraveling Their Potential in Fats, Oils, and Grease Sorption—A Comprehensive Review |
| title_short | Advanced Aerogels for Water Remediation: Unraveling Their Potential in Fats, Oils, and Grease Sorption—A Comprehensive Review |
| title_sort | advanced aerogels for water remediation unraveling their potential in fats oils and grease sorption a comprehensive review |
| topic | aerogel materials water remediation oil sorption organic solvents sorption oil/water separation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/4/268 |
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