Utilizing Magnetic Cellulose Aerogel for Oil-Based Spills in Agro-Industrial Effluents

Abstract

Magnetic cellulose aerogels are lightweight, highly porous materials engineered by embedding magnetite nanoparticles into a cellulose-based matrix to impart magnetic properties. Their unique combination of superhydrophobicity, high surface area, and reusability makes them highly effective sorbents for oil-based spill remediation, particularly in agro-industrial effluents, which often contain large volumes of oils and hydrophobic contaminants. The incorporation of magnetite enhances not only the mechanical strength and structural stability of the aerogels but also facilitates their rapid and efficient recovery using an external magnetic field. This chapter provides an in-depth review of the role, modification strategies, physicochemical characteristics, and adsorption mechanisms of magnetic cellulose aerogels, emphasizing their potential for sustainable and efficient oil spill cleanup in agro-industrial wastewater management.