Gelatin and crosslinked gelatin aerogels : synthesis and characterization

Abstract

This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of gelatin-based aerogels with optimized properties for advanced applications. Gelatin was used as the base material, with synthesis conditions refined by adjusting parameters such as gelatin sheet size, stirring rate, temperature, and gelation time. Solvent exchange with methanol was employed to minimize structural deformation, followed by supercritical drying at 40°C to produce uniform aerogels. Three aerogels (RM20, RM24, RM29) were synthesized with varying degrees of crosslinking using glutaraldehyde (GTA) to evaluate the effects of crosslinking on their structure and properties. Characterization included SEM imaging, N₂ porosimetry, mechanical testing, and swelling behavior analysis under different pH conditions.