ABSTRACT Wastewater contamination remains a pressing environmental challenge that requires effective and sustainable intervention. In this study, we explored the potential of lignin as a natural filler to enhance the physical characteristics and oil adsorption capacity of natural rubber (NR) foam. The NR composite foams were prepared using the Dunlop process with lignin incorporated at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 phr. Our results indicate that adding lignin refines the foam's cell structure, reducing cell size and increasing bulk density from 0.155 ± 0.022 to 0.269 ± 0.025 g/cm 3 . Mechanical evaluations showed that the elastic modulus remained invariant with respect to lignin content, though we observed a decrease in tensile strength and elongation. This decline likely stems from restricted rubber chain mobility and increased cell wall stiffness. Notably, lignin significantly boosted oil uptake performance. At 10 phr, adsorption capacities for diesel and vegetable oils reached 7.99 and 7.13 g/g, representing increases of 43% and 650% over neat NR foam. This improvement is driven by enhanced hydrophobicity and a more optimized porous network. Despite slight trade‐offs in flexibility, these lignin‐reinforced foams offer a viable, eco‐friendly alternative for oil–water separation in wastewater treatment.
Somdee et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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