**Dinh Duc Nguyen 1,2, Cuong Manh Vu 3,4,\*, Huong Thi Vu <sup>5</sup> and Hyoung Jin Choi 6,\***


Received: 29 March 2019; Accepted: 25 April 2019; Published: 30 April 2019

**Abstract:** Micron-size white bamboo fibrils were fabricated from white bamboo and used as a source for the production of highly porous and very lightweight cellulose aerogels for use as a potential oil absorbent. The aerogels were fabricated through gelation from an aqueous alkali hydroxide/urea solution, followed by a conventional freeze-drying process. The morphology and physical properties of the aerogels were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis, respectively. Successful silanization of the cellulose aerogel was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and water contact angle measurements. The fabricated silane cellulose aerogel exhibited excellent absorption performance for various oil and organic solvents with typical weight gains ranging from 400% to 1200% of their own dry weight, making them promising versatile absorbents for a range of applications, including water purification.

**Keywords:** cellulose aerogel; oil absorbent; cellulose; white bamboo fibril; water pollution
