Wood-Derived Systems for Sustainable Oil/Water Separation

Separating oil and water remains a serious challenge because various oil/water mixtures are generated in large quantities by industrial processes, unexpected accidents, and daily life. Various systems containing materials with specific structures and wettabilities have been investigated as possible solutions to this issue. As a sustainable biological material, wood and its derivatives have many advantageous properties for practical applications. The present review mainly focuses on recent progress in using wood-derived systems for sustainable oil/water separation. Various types of materials that can be produced from wood are briefly introduced. Strategies for constructing wood-derived separation materials based on direct use and integration, modification, and carbonization are then highlighted. Next, the use of wood-derived systems for separating oil/water layered mixtures and oil/water emulsions by filtration and absorption methods are systematically discussed. The review concludes with a brief summary of some of the remaining challenges to be overcome.