Recent Advances in the Fabrication and Environmental Science Applications of Cellulose Nanofibril-Based Functional Materials

Abstract

Cellulose is one of the important biomass materials in nature and has shown wide applications in various fields from materials science, biomedicine, tissue engineering, wearable devices, energy, and environmental science, as well as many others. Due to their one-dimensional nanostructure, high specific surface area, excellent biodegradability, low cost, and high sustainability, cellulose nanofibrils/nanofibers (CNFs) have been widely used for environmental science applications in the last years. In this review, we summarize the advance in the design, synthesis, and water purification applications of CNF-based functional nanomaterials. To achieve this aim, we firstly introduce the synthesis and functionalization of CNFs, which are further extended for the formation of CNF hybrid materials by combining with other functional nanoscale building blocks, such as polymers, biomolecules, nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and two-dimensional (2D) materials. Then, the fabrication methods of CNF-based 2D membranes/films, three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels, and 3D aerogels are presented. Regarding the environmental science applications, CNF-based nanomaterials for the removal of metal ions, anions, organic dyes, oils, and bio-contents are demonstrated and discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges and outlooks in this promising research field are discussed. It is expected that this topical review will guide and inspire the design and fabrication of CNF-based novel nanomaterials with high sustainability for practical applications.

Sustainable Materials via the Assembly of Biopolymeric Nanobuilding Blocks Valorized from Agri-Food Waste

“…The biopolymeric nanobuilding blocks obtained by both the methods of exfoliation and self-assembly can then be applied as building blocks to construct new biopolymer-based materials. While I will not delve extensively into the intricacies involved due to the abundance of existing literature on the subject [20,23,[31][32][33][34], it is worth noting that the primary method for processing biopolymers (colloidal matter) involves using solvents [5,20,23,27]. This approach encompasses the assembly of macromolecules, coacervation [35], and various other techniques to produce capsules [35,36], membranes [37,38], hydrogels [39,40], aerogels [30], and fibers [41,42], offering a broad spectrum of potential applications in the energy and environmental fields, including water purification [28,37,38], bioplastics [13,17], and green bioelectronic and energy-related materials [18,43].…”

Application of nanofibrous protein for the purification of contaminated water as a next generational sorption technology: a review

“…Using the fibril membranes, emerging pollutants can be satisfactorily removed from the water systems. This is due to their one-dimensional nanostructure, high specific surface area, excellent biodegradability, low cost, and high sustainability (Zhang et al 2021). They continued to serve as functional nanomaterials for water purification applications and environmental science applications.…”

“…These are employed for the removal of metal ions, anions, organic dyes, oils, and biocontents from contaminated water systems. The formed membrane materials displayed a layered, porous, network structure, which is highly beneficial as nanofiltration membranes for water purification (Zhang et al 2021).…”

“…Protein nanofibrils are developing as an unrestricted reaction to the persistent problem of sustainable water purification due to the following factors: an exceptional combination of their origin, source, performance, cost, and ease of execution. It is projected that this inexpensive and green set of technologies can resolve or at least ease the pressing contaminated water situation globally and advance the quality of life of people around the world in a hugely sustainable way (Zhang et al 2021).…”