Magnetic Wood-based Superhydrophobic Aerogel for Efficient Oil-Water Separation

The fabrication of directionally driven oil-water separation materials has great significance for the removal of oil spills and organic pollutants. In this study, an oil-water separation aerogel capable of directionally adsorbing oil was designed using an anisotropic wood aerogel with a layered structure and a top-down fabrication strategy. Specifically, a magnetic wood-based superhydrophobic aerogel(methyltrimethoxysilane(MTMS)/FeOwood aerogel) was developed through the in situ coprecipitation of FeOnanoparticles and chemical vapor deposition. Owing to its highly porous structure, lipophilicity, hydrophobicity(water contact angle of 160°), and high compressibility, the MTMS/FeOwood aerogel exhibits excellent oil-water separation performance and compression cycle stability.Additionally, the FeOendows the material with excellent magnetic and photothermal conversion capabilities. These excellent properties make MTMS/FeOwood aerogel a promising recyclable and sustainable oil-water separation material.