Chitosan-Reinforced Carbon Aerogels from Oil Palm Fronds for Enhanced Oil Absorption and Silver Nanowires Loaded as Antimicrobial Activity

This study explores the development of carbon aerogels (CA) derived from oil palm fronds (OPF) with chitosan (CS) reinforcement and silver nanowires (AgNWs) incorporation for oil absorption and antimicrobial applications. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) were extracted from OPF and mixed with CS in varying mass ratios (2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3) before undergoing freeze-drying and carbonization at temperatures of 300 ^o C. The resulting carbon aerogels were further functionalized with AgNWs using a dip-coating technique. The CA samples were characterized for their density, porosity, surface area, and wettability. The absorption capacity for marine fuel oil, palm oil, and high-speed diesel oil ranged from 20–76 g/g, influenced by the aerogel’s pore structure. The addition of CS improved the aerogel’s structural integrity, enhancing reusability over multiple absorption-desorption cycles. AgNWs loading imparted strong antimicrobial activity, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria ( E. coli and S. typhi ), as demonstrated by the agar diffusion method. The results suggest that CA-AgNWs composites exhibit excellent oil absorption performance, selectivity, and reusability, along with broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. These findings highlight the potential of OPF-derived carbon aerogels as multifunctional materials for environmental and medical applications. This research demonstrates a sustainable approach to utilizing biomass waste for creating high-performance absorbents with tailored properties. Future work may focus on optimizing the composition and processing conditions for enhanced application efficiency.