Recent Advances in Cellulose Nanofibers Preparation through Energy-Efficient Approaches: A Review

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and their applications have recently gained significant attention due to the attractive and unique combination of their properties including excellent mechanical properties, surface chemistry, biocompatibility, and most importantly, their abundance from sustainable and renewable resources. Although there are some commercial production plants, mostly in developed countries, the optimum CNF production is still restricted due to the expensive initial investment, high mechanical energy demand, and high relevant production cost. This paper discusses the development of the current trend and most applied methods to introduce energy-efficient approaches for the preparation of CNFs. The production of cost-effective CNFs represents a critical step for introducing bio-based materials to industrial markets and provides a platform for the development of novel high value applications. The key factor remains within the process and feedstock optimization of the production conditions to achieve high yields and quality with consistent production aimed at cost effective CNFs from different feedstock.

Rice straw as a source of nanocellulose for sustainable food packaging materials: A Review

“…A significant number of publications have documented the isolation of cellulosic nanomaterials from a wide range of lignocellulosic biomass and their use in the production of value-added goods (Siqueira et al 2010;Oun and Rhim 2016;Xu et al 2018;Djafari Petroudy et al 2021). NC can be separated from different non-wood lignocellulose biomass such as cotton, kenaf, banana, bamboo, wheat straw, rice straw, bagasse, etc.…”

“…This process also provides selective hydrolysis of the fibers, which results in lower degradation of cellulose chains of fibers and less formation of glucose (Karim et al 2017). Several researchers have documented that enzymatic pretreatment decreased the energy requirement during the fibrillation of NC from different lignocellulose biomass (Djafari Petroudy et al 2021). A cellulase enzyme complex with five subunits (endocellulases, exocellulases, cellobiases, oxidative cellulases, and cellulose phosphorylases) has been used to hydrolyze the cellulose fiber into the nanoscale.…”

“…Cellulose fibers have been mechanically treated to isolate NC through a variety of mechanical processes, the most common of which are ultrafine grinders or micro grinders, high-pressure homogenization (HPHs), high-pressure microfluidization (HPMs), highintensity ultrasonication (HIUs) (Sharma and Goswami 2019;Djafari Petroudy et al 2021). However, the major drawbacks of these processes are the high energy input required.…”

“…As a result, they are frequently combined with some initial pretreatments to reduce energy consumption. The selection of the best mechanical technique depends on factors such as input materials' type, morphological and chemical characterization, and the final applications of the manufactured NC (Djafari Petroudy et al 2021). The effects of different mechanical isolation processes for rice straw NC have been summarized in Table 4.…”

Extraction and Characterization of Cellulose Nanofibers From Yellow Thatching Grass (Hyparrhenia filipendula) Straws via Acid Hydrolysis

“…Cellulose fibers are natural biopolymers found abundantly on earth [1,2]. Cellulose fibers can be extracted from various natural fibers such as roselle, date palm, hemp, bamboo, kenaf, sisal, cotton and agricultural residues such as bagasse, palm oil residue, soybean hulls, banana fibers, potato tubers, sugar beets, wheat, flax and rice straw [1, [3][4][5][6]. Cellulose is a renewable, biocompatible, biodegradable, semi-crystalline, low density, non-toxic material and can be sourced at low cost [1].…”