Polysaccharide aerogel
Disclosed herein is a polysaccharide aerogel comprising cotton cellulose fibres and a method of preparing the polysaccharide aerogel. The method comprises: mixing cotton cellulose fibres and a cross-linker to form a mixture; sonicating the mixture; freezing the sonicated mixture; and freeze drying the frozen mixture to form an aerogel. A further embodiment provides a polysaccharide aerogel comprising cotton cellulose fibres and paper cellulose fibres in a weight ratio of 1:1 to 1:6 and a method of preparation thereof wherein in the mixing step, the paper cellulose fibres are added to the cotton cellulose fibres to form a mixture.
1. A polysaccharide aerogel, comprising cotton cellulose fibres and paper cellulose fibres, wherein the cotton cellulose fibres and the paper cellulose fibres are comprised in the aerogel in a weight ratio of 1:1 to 1:6.
2. The aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the aerogel is compressible.
3. The aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the aerogel is formed from a hydrogel comprising 0.5-1.5 weight % cotton cellulose fibres.
4. The aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the aerogel further comprises at least one additive.
5. The aerogel of claim 4 , wherein the at least one additive comprises chitosan.
6. The aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the aerogel comprises at least one cross-linker.
7. The aerogel of claim 6 , wherein the at least one cross-linker comprises a wet-strength resin.
8. A device, comprising the aerogel of claim 1 .
9. A method of forming the aerogel of claim 1 , the method comprising:
mixing cotton cellulose fibres and paper cellulose fibres in a weight ratio of 1:1 to 1:6 and a cross-linker to form a mixture;
sonicating the mixture;
freezing the sonicated mixture; and
freeze drying the frozen mixture to form the aerogel.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the mixing further comprises mixing at least one additive.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one additive is chitosan.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises compressing the aerogel following the freeze drying.