Crude oil sorbent based on cellulose nanofibrils-methacrylate grafted copolymers

Hydrophobic composites of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) with acrylic polymers are obtained by methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl methacrylate (BMA) polymerization in Pickering emulsion, stabilized with cellulose nanofibrils. Successful modification of CNF surface by grafting MMA or BMA was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and scanning electron microscopy. The obtained composites were also characterized by simultaneous thermal analysis and wetting contact angle measurement. Composites based on CNF exhibit good thermal and oil sorption properties.