Cellulosic Absorbent Materials for Oil Spill Response: A Review

Cellulose-based materials have been widely investigated as sustainable sorbents for oil spill remediation due to their renewability, biodegradability, low density, and structural diversity. However, reported performance varies substantially across material classes, modification strategies, and testing conditions, making direct comparison difficult. This review summarizes recent progress in cellulose-based sorbents for oil removal, with emphasis on the relationships between processing methods, pore architecture, surface wettability, and sorption behavior. Native cellulose materials, chemically modified cellulose, aerogels, nanocellulose-based systems, and carbonized cellulose are comparatively discussed in terms of oil uptake, selectivity, sorption kinetics, retention stability, reusability, and mechanical performance. The analysis indicates that sorption efficiency is controlled by the combined effects of hierarchical porosity, surface characteristics, and structural integrity. Native materials provide low cost and rapid uptake but limited selectivity, whereas chemically modified systems show improved hydrophobicity and oil retention. Aerogels generally exhibit some of the highest reported absorption capacities but often suffer from low mechanical durability. Nanocellulose-based materials generally offer a balanced combination of sorption capacity and stability, while carbonized materials typically provide enhanced retention at the expense of transport rate. Current limitations, including scalability, durability, and realistic operating conditions, are also discussed to outline future directions for the design of efficient cellulose-based oil sorbents.