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

## TL;DR

This paper explores how adding starch to cellulose aerogels improves their ability to clean up oil spills by enhancing their structure and reusability.

## Contribution

The study introduces starch cross-linking as a novel method to improve the performance of cellulose aerogels for oil sorption.

## Key findings

- Aerogels with 0.5 and 1 wt% starch showed higher porosity and sorption capacity for petroleum products.
- Starch cross-linking improved the reusability of the aerogels without altering their hydrophobic properties.
- Surface chemistry and adsorption performance remained largely unaffected by starch addition.

## Abstract

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.