title: Research and application of kapok fiber as an absorbing material: a mini review.
abstract: Kapok fiber corresponds to the seed hairs of the kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra), and is a typical cellulosic fiber with the features of thin cell wall, large lumen, low density and hydrophobic-oleophilic properties. As a type of renewable natural plant fiber, kapok fiber is abundant, biocompatible and biodegradable, and its full exploration and potential application have received increasing attention in both academic and industrial fields. Based on the structure and properties of kapok fiber, this review provides a summary of recent research on kapok fiber including chemical and physical treatments, kapok fiber-based composite materials, and the application of kapok fiber as an absorbent material for oils, metal ions, dyes, and sound, with special attention to its use as an oil-absorbing material, one predominant application of kapok fiber in the coming future.
authors.affiliation: Center of Eco-materials and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China. Electronic address: zhengyian@licp.cas.cn.
authors.forename: Yian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Center of Eco-materials and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Jintao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center of Eco-materials and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Yongfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Center of Eco-materials and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China. Electronic address: aqwang@licp.cas.cn.
authors.forename: Aiqin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D035164:Ceiba / Q000737:chemistry*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D009622:Noise / Q000517:prevention & control; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals
keywords: Absorbing materials; Composite material; Kapok fiber; Pretreatment