TITLE:
State of the Art Manufacturing and Engineering of Nanocellulose: A Review of Available Data and Industrial Applications
AUTHORS:
Serge Rebouillat, Fernand Pla
KEYWORDS:
Nanocellulose; Processes; Production; Modifications; Biocomposites; Biomaterials; Engineering; Renewable; Bioadditives; Fibrous; Nanostructures; Green Chemistry
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology,
Vol.4 No.2,
April
17,
2013
ABSTRACT:
This review provides a critical overview
of the recent methods and processes developed for the production of cellulose nanoparticles
with controlled morphology, structure and properties, and also sums up (1) the processes for the chemical modifications
of these particles in order to prevent their re-aggregation during spray-drying
procedures and to increase their reactivity, (2) the recent processes involved in the
production of nanostructured biomaterials and composites. The structural and physical
properties of those nanocelluloses, combined with their biodegradability, make them
materials of choice in the very promising area of nanotechnology, likely subject
to major commercial successes in the context of green chemistry. With a prospective
and pioneering approach to the subject matter, various laboratories involved in
this domain have developed bio-products now almost suitable to industrial applications;
although some important steps remain to be overcome, those are worth been reviewed and supplemented. At this stage, several pilot
units and demonstration
plants have been built to improve, optimize and scale-up the processes developed
at laboratory scale. Industrial reactors with suitable environment and modern control
equipment are to be expected within that context. This review shall bring the suitable
processing dimension that may be needed now, given the numerous reviews outlining
the product potential attributes.
An abundant literature database, close to 250 publications and patents, is provided,
consolidating the various research
and more practical angles.