Aerogéis de celulose: uma revisão com enfoque nas oportunidades tecnológicas de produção e aplicação

Abstract

Cellulose is a renewable and widely available material in nature. By using cellulose to produce aerogels, it is possible to explore renewable resources and reduce the dependence on non-renewable materials, thus contributing to environmental sustainability. In most cases, the production of these aerogels is derived from a colloidal solution with cellulose that undergoes lyophilization. However, different methods exist, such as using the structure of plant tissues to form the aerogel after various chemical treatments, or the growth of bacterial cellulose on a specific substrate. This material is a focus of very recent study. In the mid-2010s, various studies on applications and manufacturing methods began to emerge abruptly. The unique and desirable characteristics of these aerogels serve as motivation for research into different applications. With low density, high porosity, large surface area, and excellent thermal insulation capacity, they stand out. The main focus of current research on cellulose aerogels is selective adsorption, followed by filters and supercapacitors. The significant potential for chemical and physical modification of the aerogel walls is a key point for the mentioned applications. Other applications that can be mentioned include drug carriers, thermal and acoustic insulators, and various uses in the healthcare field. There is still much space to be explored in this field. New synthesis methods, diverse applications, and large-scale production are the major future challenges.