Sustainable superhydrophobic lignin-based polyurethane foam: an innovative solution for oil pollutant adsorption.

Green, efficient treatment of crude oil spills and oil pollutants is a global challenge, with adsorption technology favored for its efficiency and low environmental impact. The development of an environmentally friendly adsorbent with high hydrophobicity, excellent adsorption performance, and degradability is crucial to overcoming the limitations of petroleum-based adsorbents. Here, a lignin-based polyurethane foam (LPUF) with superhydrophobic and photothermal oil-absorbing properties was fabricated by incorporating octadecyltrimethoxysilane into the foam system.