This study presents the development of a wood sponge (WS) modified with MnO2 nanorods (MnO2/WS) derived from balsa natural wood, an abundant and environ- mentally friendly raw material, for the adsorption of organic solvents, oils, and heavy metal ions from water. The MnO2/WS composite exhibits an exceptionally low density of 0.014 g cm− 3 and a high porosity of approximately 97%. It dem- onstrates consistent sorption-desorption performance over 20 cycles. Zeta potential analysis reveals that MnO2 nanorods carry a negative charge (-22.31 mV) at pH 4.68, indicating their affinity for adsorbing positively charged heavy metal ions, which are commonly found in industrial effluents. Moreover, WS shows remarkable mechanical robustness, enduring 1000 stress-strain cycles with high shape recov- ery, ensuring its durability under operational conditions. The data highlight several strengths of MnO2/WS, including cost-effective production process, high reusabil- ity, remarkable sorption capacities for carbon tetrachloride and soybean oil (29.56 and 17.65 times its mass, respectively), and efficient performance. Its capability to produce potable water from real industrial effluents positions MnO2/WS as an ideal solution for addressing water crises.

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