EXPLORING CELLULOSE AND NANOCELLULOSE BASED MATERIALS FOR WATER PURIFICATION: A MINI REVIEW
W. W. Y. Sanjana1 and D. Dahanayake2*
1,2 Faculty of Science, NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka
Session: Technical Session C
Abstract
Cellulose and nanocellulose-based materials have emerged as promising candidates for water purification due to their abundance, biodegradability, and tunable properties. This review examines several materials made from cellulose, such as hydrogels, composites, and nanofibers, emphasizing their special functionalization techniques and structural characteristics that improve adsorption and filtering properties. We compare their performance indicators with traditional purification techniques to assess how effectively they remove contaminants such as heavy metals, organic pollutants, and infectious substances. Cellulose exhibits stiffness and a crystalline structure due to hydrogen bonding. Its basic state is compact, porous, and rich in binding sites, making it effective as a bio adsorbent. Cellulose modification techniques are divided into two categories: direct modifications (e.g., sulfation, etherification, and esterification) and polymerization methods (e.g., free radical, ring-opening) that graft monomers onto cellulose. The review also discusses issues with cellulose-based adsorbents' scalability, affordability, and regeneration. Nanocellulose has demonstrated significant effectiveness in water purification, with various modification techniques enhancing its performance. Nanocellulose, with its enhanced mechanical properties and unique nanoscale features, offers significant advantages over traditional cellulose, making it a promising material for a wide range of advanced applications particularly in water purification. Previous studies indicate that the preparation of composites from nanocellulose has yielded promising results in the treatment of contaminated water. The potential relevance of cellulose materials in sustainable water management practices is emphasized by discussing future perspectives on inventive fabrication techniques and their integration into current water treatment systems.
Keywords: water purification, cellulose, nanocellulose
DOI: 10.64752/CDYL6182