Aerogels from Fermented Peanut Shell Fiber with Improved Functional Properties and Oil Absorption Capacity

Huyen Ngoc Nguyen, Quyen Ho Minh Le, Ngoc Thanh Vu

Abstract

Peanut shells, an abundant agricultural byproduct, present waste management challenges. This study investigated the impact of solid-state fermentation (SSF), an eco-friendly and cost-effective technique in waste valorization, on the chemical composition and structural properties of cellulose fiber derived from peanut shells and its subsequent utilization in aerogel production. Although the fiber yield remained unchanged after fermentation, compositional analysis revealed a substantial increase in the cellulose content of fermented peanut shell fiber (F-PSF) (from 59.1% to 71.8%). F-PSF also exhibited reductions in hemicellulose (from 17.3% to 9.3%) and lignin (from 13.7% to 8.6%) content. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated an increased crystallinity index of F-PSF, suggesting enhanced molecular ordering. Scanning electron microscopy showed a more fibrillated and less agglomerated structure of F-PSF, resulting in a better-defined porous network of F-PSF aerogel (F-PSFA). F-PSFA exhibited decreased density (from 0.033 g/cm³ to 0.019 g/cm³) and thermal conductivity (from 0.047 W/(m·K) to 0.039 W/(m·K)). Additionally, F-PSFA had increased porosity (from 90.3% to 96.1%), hydrophobicity (from 79.3° to 111.7° for water contact angle), and mechanical stability (from 4% to 36% size restoration after 9 compression times). Furthermore, F-PSFA demonstrated remarkable enhancements in oil absorption capacity (from 4–5 g/g to 21–25 g/g after 1-min absorption) and reusability (increasing from 1 g/g to 11 g/g after 9 cycles). These findings collectively highlight the effectiveness of SSF in processing peanut shells for producing aerogels with improved functional properties. These aerogels have pertinent applications in oil recovery, wastewater treatment, thermal insulation, and the biomedical field.

Keywords

References

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DOI: 10.14416/j.asep.2026.05.009

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