Cleanup　of　oil　spills　has　become　one　of　the　most　challenging　tasks　in　recent　years,　as　marine　oil　spills　have　had　a　great　negative　impact　on　human　health　and　the　ecological　environment.　This　also　urgently　requires　the　development　of　new　materials　and　methods　with　superhydrophobic　properties　for　oil–water　separation.　As　new　porous　materials,　metal–organic　frameworks　(MOFs)　have　attracted　much　attention　due　to　their　unique　structures　and　fascinating　properties.　However,　powdered　MOF　materials　are　difficult　to　recycle,　and　therefore,　suitable　substrates　need　to　be　selected　to　construct　superhydrophobic　composites.　The　surface　hydroxyl　groups　of　cellulose　fibers　offer　great　possibilities　for　their　superhydrophobic　preparation.　In　this　paper,　HDTMS-UiO-66@CFs　composites　with　superhydrophobicity　were　strategically　synthesized　by　in-situ　growth　of　Zr(IV)-based　MOFs　linked　to　hexadecyltrimethoxysilane　(HDTMS)　on　cellulosic　fibers　(cotton　fabric)　by　using　a　hydrothermal　synthesis　method.　The　HDTMS-UiO-66@CFs　composites　have　a　water　contact　angle　of　172°　and　the　absorption　capacity　of　light　oil　and　heavy　oil　is　more　than　1100%,　and　the　oil–water　separation　efficiency　is　as　high　as　96%.　Due　to　the　in-situ　growth　of　the　HDTMS-UiO-66　material　on　cotton　fibers,　which　makes　the　material　more　resistant　and　stable,　the　material　can　still　maintain　its　superhydrophobic　properties　in　various　harsh　environments　and　after　repeated　use.　Therefore,　the　newly　developed　HDTMS-UiO-66@CFs　composites　have　a　high　potential　as　novel　adsorbent　materials　for　cleaning　up　offshore　oil　spills　and　other　applications.　Highlights:　In-situ　growth　of　superhydrophobic　metal-organic　frameworks　(MOF)　particles　on　cellulose　fibers.　The　porous　structure　of　hexadecyltrimethoxysilane　(HDTMS)-UiO66　plays　a　key　role　in　hydrophobicity.　HDTMS-UiO66@CFs　are　chemically　stable　and　have　long-term　durability.　©　2024　Society　of　Plastics　Engineers.