BACKGROUNDAn increasing number of oil spills has caused a rise in demand for oil sorption materials. Kapok fiber, a natural fiber, shows promising potential as an oil absorbent as it is abundantly available and exhibits high absorption capacity. Superhydrophobic kapok fiber based on graphene modified with 1H,1H,2H,2H - perfluorodecyltriclorosilane (FTS) was prepared. RESULTSFTS-modified graphene-coated kapok fibers (FGRKF) were characterized by contact angle, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. After modification, the contact angle of water on kapok fiber rose from 114.7 degrees to 150.6 degrees. The oil sorption capacities of kapok fiber for diesel, soybean oil and lubricating oil were 27.55, 38.28 and 43.57 g g(-1). The oil sorption capacities of FGRKF for diesel, soybean oil and lubricating oil reached 50.74, 61.08 and 68.26 g g(-1), respectively. CONCLUSIONThe superhydrophobic/superoleophilic FGRKF is an efficient oil sorption material, which can be used for the cleanup of oil spills. This work provides a simple method for the fabrication of superhydrophobic oil absorption material. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry