Beeswax-modified biopolymer aerogel: A sustainable approach to hydrophobic oil absorbing materials

The development of bio-based materials has gained considerable attention in recent years due to the growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional synthetic polymers [1].Among these materials, bioaerogels, particularly those derived from nanocellulose (NC) and chitosan (CH), have emerged as promising candidates for a wide range of applications due to their unique properties, such as high porosity, low density, and excellent mechanical strength [2,3].However, one significant limitation of these bioaerogels is their inherent hydrophilicity, which restricts their use in applications requiring water resistance, such as oil-water separation, thermal insulation, and air filtration [4].Conventional approaches to impart hydrophobicity