Multifunctional Hierarchically Porous Aerogel–Organogelator Hybrid for Oil Spill Gelation and Removal

Marine oil spills cause severe ecological damage, necessitating efficient and sustainable cleanup approaches. Organogelators are promising materials because they can induce in situ gelation of spilled oil, converting it into a semisolid gel that can be easily collected, thus preventing secondary pollution. However, the direct use of organogelators often suffers from poor dispersion, the use of organic solvents, weak mechanical stability, and limited recyclability. To overcome these drawbacks, in this study, a porous sodium alginate and gelatin aerogel was used as a structural carrier to synergistically realize the oil gelation process. 12-Hydroxystearic acid (12-HSA) was used as the organogelator that was deposited on the aerogel surface by spraying. The porous ZIF-8 was loaded inside the aerogel to increase the surface roughness, while enriching the pore structure of the aerogel. The gelation-SA/gel/ZIF-8 aerogel (GSGZ) shows high porosity, stable hydrophobicity, and excellent oil capture and gelling performance. When it was applied to treat spilled oil on the water surface, 12-HSA promoted the rapid gelling of the oil with the assistance of the capillary adsorption of the aerogel, promoting fast oil solidification and recovery. This study demonstrates that combining the gelation ability of organogelators with the structural advantages of porous aerogels can offer an economical, environmentally friendly, and effective approach for fast cleanup of marine oil spills.