Sponge-based materials for oil spill cleanups: A review

Elimination of leaked oil from aquatic environs has recently gained importance owing to the disasters associated with leakages into marine environments. The need for an environmentally friendly and viable line of action concerning the environs has brought forward numerous affordable, non-toxic, and decomposable materials; further, diverse biomasses for fabricating nano- to micro-scale materials, membranes, and sponges/aerogels have also been incorporated for the elimination and retrieval of oils from water. Moreover, selectivity, sorption capacity, and reusability of these materials after the retrieval of oils are also desired from the viewpoint of sustainability. This review encompasses the recent progress in the field of elimination and retrieval of oil spills using various sponge-based materials.