Bacterial　cellulose　(BC)　aerogel　has　great　potential　in　treating　oil　spill　and　organic　pollutant.　However,　its　inherent　hydrophilicity　and　poor　rigidity limit　its　practical　application　and　recyclability.　In　this　study,　elastically　compressible　and　high　oil-absorbing　aerogels　were　developed　by　freeze-drying　aqueous　suspensions　with　appropriate　BC　concentrations,　followed　by　a　chemical　vapor　deposition　of　methyltrimethoxysilane　with　ammonia　as　catalyst.　The　modified　aerogel　shows　high　water　contact　angle　of　142°　and　enhanced　compression　resistance.　The　effect　of　BC　concentration　on　the　absorption　capacity　and　recyclability　of　aerogel　has　been　investigated.　The　results　show　that　the　aerogel　prepared　with　0.3　wt%　BC　exhibits　simultaneously　high　absorption　capacity　(121.8–284.1 g/g)　and　excellent　recyclability.　Futhermore,　the　aerogel　could　also　separate　chloroform-water　mixture　by　gravity-driven　filtration,　giving　the　separation　efficiency　of　96.7%.　Therefore,　this　economical　green　aerogel　provides　a　feasible　strategy　for　solving　oil　leakage　in　industry.　©　2021,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC,　part　of　Springer　Nature.