Eco-friendly Aerogel from Esterified Lignin and Guar Gum for Oil Spill Cleanup

Date: 17 June 2024

Country: Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Application

• Oil Spill Cleanup: The aerogel composite effectively absorbs oils, making it ideal for cleaning oil spills in water bodies.

Description

This project explores the development of a composite aerogel made from esterified lignin and guar gum for efficient oil spill cleanup. The lignin, derived from black liquor in the pulp industry, is esterified to enhance its hydrophobic properties. The resulting aerogel, with high porosity and low density, demonstrates excellent oil absorption capacity, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for environmental cleanup. The study emphasizes the potential of biomass-derived materials in addressing oil pollution.

Pathway Description:

The process involves extracting lignin from black liquor (a byproduct of the pulp industry) and esterifying it with maleic anhydride to enhance hydrophobicity. This esterified lignin is then combined with guar gum to form a composite aerogel, using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. The mixture is frozen and freeze-dried to create a highly porous structure. Finally, the aerogel is surface-modified with octadecyltrichlorosilane to improve hydrophobicity and oil absorption capacity.