Effect of crosslinker length in CNF foams for oil recovery and sustainable agriculture

Chemically crosslinked foams possess good wet mechanical stability, and they are promising systems for applications in oil recovery, water treatment, energy storage, etc. However, reports on the effect of crosslinker length on the physical properties of the foam are scarce. Various cellulose nanofiber (CNF) foams (denoted as CPM) were prepared using different molecular weights dicarboxylated-PEG crosslinkers via the esterification reaction. The effect of PEG chain length on the crosslinking efficiency, mechanical strength, porosity, wettability, and oil recovery performance of the produced foams was elucidated. Additionally, the application potential of CPM 600 foam was explored as a nutrient promoter and water retention platform in the field of sustainable agriculture. This fundamental research could provide guidance for the preparation of high-performance porous materials.