title: Surface modification of bacterial cellulose aerogels' web-like skeleton for oil/water separation.
abstract: The cellulose nanofibers of bacterial cellulose aerogel (BCA) are modified only on their surfaces using a trimethylsilylation reaction with trimethyichlorosilane in liquid phase followed by freeze-drying. The obtained hydrophobic bacterial cellulose aerogels (HBCAs) exhibit low density (≤6.77 mg/cm(3)), high surface area (≥169.1 m(2)/g), and high porosity (≈ 99.6%), which are nearly the same as those of BCA owing to the low degrees of substitution (≤0.132). Because the surface energy of cellulose nanofibers decreased and the three-dimensional web-like microstructure, which was comprised of ultrathin (20-80 nm) cellulose nanofibers, is maintained during the trimethylsilylation process, the HBCAs have hydrophobic and oleophilic properties (water/air contact angle as high as 146.5°) that endow them with excellent selectivity for oil adsorption from water. The HBCAs are able to collect a wide range of organic solvents and oils with absorption capacities up to 185 g/g, which depends on the density of the liquids. Hence, the HBCAs are wonderful candidates for oil absorbents to clean oil spills in the marine environment. This work provides a different way to multifunctionalize cellulose aerogel blocks in addition to chemical vapor deposition method.
authors: Huazheng
authors: H
authors: Sai
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Fu
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Xing
authors: Junhui
authors: J
authors: Xiang
authors: Zhenyou
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008422:Materials Testing; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044367:Phase Transition; D013499:Surface Properties; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000379:methods; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D005782:Gels; D009821:Oils; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: aerogels; bacterial cellulose; liquid phase; oil−water separation; surface modification