Cellulose-Based Nanoparticles Processed from Agricultural Waste Biomass—A Review

The nanoparticles processed from non-edible crop materials and residues have evoked great use in the food and non-food industry. The diversity in agricultural waste biomass and differences in extraction techniques account for variations in end-product properties, and would require examination of waste crop types (source) to determine suitability for the production of cellulose, nanocellulose and graphene particles. This review showed that screening criteria of end-user properties include chemical composition, cellulose contents, morphology, crystallinity, thermal stability, rheology, surface charge and zeta potential. The literature shows that the end-user properties vary with plant source (that is crop type) and extraction techniques. In this review, the cellulose content and percentage crystallinity are primary parameters for selecting agricultural waste biomass for the production of nanocellulose and nanofibrils. Additionally, zeta potential and surface charge can determine polymer interaction for suitability in industrial applications. Moreover, nanocellulose and biochar were found to have various industrial applications as ingredients in the production of food packaging including active packaging, rheological modifiers and thickeners. Pyrolysis is the eminent strategy for the transformation of agricultural waste into biochar-derived nanoparticles and carbon-rich materials.