Nanofibrillated Cellulose Aerogel

Gravity-driven high-throughput oil-water separation

A wood-derived nanocellulose aerogel with superhydrophilicity and underwater oleophobicity enables sustainable and recyclable oil-water separation with high efficiency and flux.

Chen, Bailing · Xin Zhang, Xin · Wang, Weihong · Li, Qing · Chen, Wenshuai

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2026

Specifications

Filtration rate

{'zh': '8153', 'en': '8153'} L m⁻² h⁻¹

Single separation volume

{'zh': '40', 'en': '40'} L

Advantages

No external pressure needed

Superhydrophilic and underwater oleophobic surfaces allow rapid water permeation by gravity with minimal energy.

Scalable to large-size filters

An assembled large-sized aerogel filter realizes continuous and rapid separation of a 40 L soybean oil/water mixture, showing potential for field use.

Recyclable after use

The aerogel can be recycled via disintegration and reorganization several times, extending its service life.

Biodegradable at end-of-life

The aerogel is biodegradable and biofriendly, causing no secondary pollution after disposal and meeting sustainability requirements.

Applications

• Oil-water separation：Replaces conventional filtration membranes for gravity-driven continuous oil-water separation without energy-intensive equipment.
• Water treatment：Treats oily wastewater with a biodegradable material that avoids secondary pollution.
• Sustainable materials：Uses abundant and biodegradable wood nanocellulose to replace petroleum-based or nondegradable separation materials.
• Functional aerogels：High porosity and superhydrophilic/underwater oleophobic properties enable efficient oil-water separation.