Carbon Nanomaterial for Oil Spill Clean-Up

Oil spills are a pressing issue as they impose a risk on the marine ecosystem and have severe economic and social consequences. Conventional methods for oil spill clean-up, such as mechanical containment and chemical dispersants, have limitations regarding efficacy, ecological footprint, and economic viability. Recently, the development of technology has revolutionized new possibilities for more efficient and sustainable oil spill clean-up strategies. Carbon nanomaterials have merged as a promising candidate among advanced materials due to their unique physiochemical properties and diverse applications. Carbon nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon nanofibers, and carbon aerogels, display exceptional superhydrophobicity, chemical stability, high surface area, and mechanical strength, making them exceedingly suited for oil spill remediation. This chapter deals with a comprehensive overview of the carbon nanomaterials application in oil spill clean-up. Also, the various types of carbon nanomaterials and their unique properties that contribute to their effectiveness in oil sorption and separation have been discussed in detail.