Nanocellulose composites: synthesis, properties, and applications to wastewater treatment

Abstract The growing worldwide environmental and water pollution challenges require the use of renewable biomass-based materials to purify water systems. The remarkable qualities of nanocellulose (NC) and its eco-friendliness make it a desirable material for this purpose. Hence, many investigations have been conducted on the optimization of NC-based materials for water purification. This review presents the first examination of the progress made in creating emerging NC composites using molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and aluminosilicates. MIPs, MOFs, and aluminosilicates endow NC composites with stability, multifunctionality, and extended reusability. The applications of these composites to wastewater treatment, such as the removal of toxic heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and microorganisms are discussed. Finally, the economic viability, challenges, and future perspectives of these emerging NC composites and their applications are discussed. The research gaps demonstrated in this review will enable the exploration of new areas of study on functionalised NC composites, leading to enhanced industrial applications. Moreover, the utilisation of NC composites with suitably modified components results in multifunctional adsorbents that have great potential for effectively eliminating many contaminants simultaneously.