Issue 24, 2016

Ultrasoft gelatin aerogels for oil contaminant removal

Abstract

We demonstrated the preparation of a novel aerogel simply by cross-linking a gelatin physical gel with formaldehyde (cGel) and using a subsequent freeze-drying procedure. A hydrophobic absorbent material (MTCS-cGel aerogel) was further obtained by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS). Rheological tests were carried out to investigate the cross-linking between gelatin and formaldehyde. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and wettability of oil and water results proved that successful silanization occurred on/in the aerogels. These results also indicated that the MTCS-cGels had low densities (5–8 kg m−3), high porosities (>95%) with uniform pore sizes, and unique laminar/fibrous 3D networks. The oleophilic aerogels possessed high oil absorption capacities of 70–123 times that of their dry weights. Furthermore, the absorbents exhibited excellent elasticity and ultrasoftness with a stress of only 2.0 kPa at 60% strain. This property endowed the aerogels with super-recyclability where 83–85% of their full absorption capacity was maintained after 5000 times of compression. The high oil absorption performance, super-recyclability, sustainability, biodegradability and cost-efficiency make this novel absorbent a promising candidate for large-scale oceanic oil contaminant removal.

Graphical abstract: Ultrasoft gelatin aerogels for oil contaminant removal

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
16 Apr 2016
Accepted
20 May 2016
First published
23 May 2016

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 9381-9389

Ultrasoft gelatin aerogels for oil contaminant removal

J. Wang, D. Zhao, K. Shang, Y. Wang, D. Ye, A.-Hui Kang, W. Liao and Y. Wang, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 9381 DOI: 10.1039/C6TA03146C

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