Cellulose is by far the most abundant bio-based polymer on earth. At nanoscale, such cellulose material is well known since 60’s for nanocrystals and 80’s for nanofibrils. However the exponential increase of interest last 10 years induces a higher amount of patents and scientific papers on the topic. This is mainly due to the announced focus on industrialization of nanocellulose and their numerous applications (nanocomposites, barrier, suspension, emulsion, medical). However still sustainable solutions are expected concerning their production or the possibility of imparting new function with surface grafting. Innovative green strategies should be proposed and would be detailed with this overview. First several examples of innovative processes for nanocellulose production will be proposed with a focus on using subcritical water for CNC production or extrusion for microfibrillated cellulose. Secondly, new sustainable solutions for grafting the surface of both nanocellulose will be detailed. A focus on natural active molecules grafting, a procedure called SolReact (using the solvent as reagent) or aqueous systems for esterification, amidation, silylation would be proposed with describing high level of surface characterization tools.

Sustainability and nanocellulose: From process preparation to surface functionnalization

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.