The rapid development of industries has intensified the issue of oily wastewater pollution, necessitating sustainable solutions. Biomass aerogels, known for their environmental friendliness and biocompatibility, offer promising prospects for oil-water separation. This study fabricated a polyamidoamine (PAMAM)-modified chitosan/cellulose interpenetrating polymer network aerogel via sequential cross-linking and directional freeze-drying. This method endowed the aerogel with excellent mechanical properties, including good strength at a low density (0.06-0.11 g/cm