Synthesis and characterization of β-cyclodextrin/alginate aerogel via chemical cross linking through supercritical drying of carbon dioxide

This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of β-cyclodextrin/alginate aerogel prepared via chemical cross-linking and supercritical carbon dioxide drying. Sodium alginate was combined with β-cyclodextrin to form a polymeric network capable of improving the aerogel’s structural stability and surface functionality. Chemical cross-linking was carried out using calcium chloride as the cross-linking agent, followed by solvent exchange and drying under supercritical CO₂ conditions to preserve the porous morphology. The resulting aerogel was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The β-cyclodextrin/alginate aerogel exhibited high porosity, low density, and good thermal stability, indicating successful incorporation of β-cyclodextrin within the alginate matrix. These findings suggest that the synthesized aerogel has potential applications in adsorption, drug delivery, and environmental remediation due to its enhanced surface area and functional groups.