Nanocellulose production from natural and recyclable sources: a review

Abstract

Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth and is the chain of glucose residues that can be obtained easily from nature. Having unique material properties, nanocellulose has gained interest of researchers for various applications. Cellulose is generally known to exist in cell wall of a plant. However, this paper reviews the isolation of nanocellulose not only from plants, wood, and agroforestry residues, but also from recyclable sources paper waste and animals. With appropriate treatment and process (chemical, mechanical, and biological), reduction in diameter and length of cellulose up to nanoscale is possible. Nanocellulose may appear in its three main types namely cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and bacterial nanocelluloses. Transformation of waste to wealth by adding value to waste and natural sources has become a meaningful and interesting work.