Nanocellulose: Characterization and environmental behavior

Nanocellulose, which can be extracted from cellulose, possesses attractive properties such as high strength, excellent stiffness, and high surface area. Nanocellulose has been used at different directions such as a strengthening agent, a component of the retention system, and printing a quality aid. As a greener alternative to traditional polymers, nanocelluloses have lately been involved in different applications in fields like biomedicine, food packaging, and cosmetics, as well as in the paper and construction industries.

Before applying nanocellulose in the commercial products, the risk, and potential hazards of nanocellulose to human and our environment must be fully assessed. Considering there is limited knowledge about nanocellulose’s physicochemical characteristics and exposure circumstances, it is urgent to understand the properties of nanocellulose as well as their behaviors after releasing to the environment. This includes evaluating how nanocellulose interacts with natural ecosystems, how it degrades or transforms in various environmental conditions, and its potential for bioaccumulation or toxicity.

In this study we mainly focus on determining physicochemical properties of nanocellulose, as well as reaching the risk assessment of released nanocellulose through experiments that simulate environmental conditions. By comparing the behavior of nanocellulose before and after these simulated experiments, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential impacts nanocellulose may have on humans and the environment.