Synthesis of dual-fiber cellulose aerogel from oil palm empty fruit bunch and banana petiole combined with graphene oxide for oil spill adsorption

Abstract

Oil spills remain a critical environmental challenge, necessitating sustainable, efficient, and economically viable adsorption materials. In this study, dual-fiber cellulose aerogels were synthesized from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) and banana petiole fibers and reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) to enhance adsorption performance and mechanical stability. The aerogel with a 2:2 cellulose ratio exhibited the most favorable structure, with a low density of 0.031 g/cm³, high porosity of 0.982, and strong hydrophobicity indicated by a contact angle of 113.32°. GO incorporation significantly enhanced oil uptake, with the aerogel containing 80 mg/g GO achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 5.4 g/g and maintaining stable performance over four reuse cycles. Adsorption kinetics were best described by the pseudo-second-order model (R² up to 0.966; k₂ up to 0.945 g/g·min), suggesting that chemisorption played a dominant role in the adsorption process. Mechanical performance was markedly improved by GO reinforcement, resulting in a bending strength of 178.44 MPa, approximately four times higher than that of the GO-free aerogel. Cost analysis indicated a production cost of US$ 0.452/g, which is comparable to previously reported cellulose-based aerogels. These results demonstrate the potential of dual-fiber cellulose/GO aerogels as scalable and mechanically robust materials for oil spill remediation.