Abstract: The porous nanocellulose aerogels were obtained by the cross-linked reaction of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether(BDGE) and nanocellulose fibers (NCFs) with the catalyst of SnCl₄. The morphological feature, chemical characterization, crystal structure, thermostability, element of nanocellulose aerogels and surface aera were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermo gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, respectively. The density, solvent absorption ability, shape recovery property and reusability of nanocellulose aerogels were investigated. The results showed that aerogels with continuous network pore structure still maintain the cellulose I crystalline structure and the aerogels started to degrade above 300℃. When the amount of BDGE was 2 times as much as the mass of NCFs, the density of aerogels was 0.020 2 mg/cm³, and aerogels could absorb water by 36.5 g/g of their own weight. The recovery degree of aerogels immersed in water and DMSO could reach 90%. After reusing for 5 times, the water absorption ability of aegrogel was still up to 30.4 g/g.

Key words: nanocellulose, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, aerogels