Cellulose nanocrystals, a class of fascinating bio-based nanoscale materials, have received a tremendous amount of interest both in industry and academia owing to its unique structural features and impressive physicochemical properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewability, low density, adaptable surface chemistry, optical transparency, and improved mechanical properties. This nanomaterial is a promising candidate for applications in fields such as biomedical, pharmaceuticals, electronics, barrier films, nanocomposites, membranes, supercapacitors, etc. New resources, new extraction procedures, and new treatments are currently under development to satisfy the increasing demand of manufacturing new types of cellulose nanocrystals-based materials on an industrial scale. Therefore, this review addresses the recent progress in the production methodologies of cellulose nanocrystals, covering principal cellulose resources and the main processes used for its isolation. A critical and analytical examination of the shortcomings of various approaches employed so far is made. Additionally, structural organization of cellulose and nomenclature of cellulose nanomaterials have also been discussed for beginners in this field.

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Recent progress in cellulose nanocrystals: sources and production

Over the past few years, nanocellulose (NC), cellulose in the form of nanostructures, has been proved to be one of the most prominent green materials of modern times. NC materials have gained growing interests owing to their attractive and excellent characteristics such as abundance, high aspect ratio, better mechanical properties, renewability, and biocompatibility. The abundant hydroxyl functional groups allow a wide range of functionalizations via chemical reactions, leading to developing various materials with tunable features. In this review, recent advances in the preparation, modification, and emerging application of nanocellulose, especially cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), are described and discussed based on the analysis of the latest investigations (particularly for the reports of the past 3 years). We start with a concise background of cellulose, its structural organization as well as the nomenclature of cellulose nanomaterials for beginners in this field. Then, different experimental procedures for the production of nanocelluloses, their properties, and functionalization approaches were elaborated. Furthermore, a number of recent and emerging uses of nanocellulose in nanocomposites, Pickering emulsifiers, wood adhesives, wastewater treatment, as well as in new evolving biomedical applications are presented. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of NC-based emerging materials are discussed.

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Nanocellulose: From Fundamentals to Advanced Applications

Microcrystalline cellulose: Isolation, characterization and bio-composites application-A review.

Current advancement on the isolation, characterization and application of lignin.

Recent advances in new oxidizers for solid rocket propulsion

The conventional cellulose nitrate (NC), used in many applications such as coating agent, main charge of propellant, museum artefacts, biofilter material, solid-phase immobilization supports for proteins, was mainly prepared from wood or cotton. The conventional NC presents many drawbacks such as low density, high friability and low combustion temperature. One approach to improve these shortcomings is the modification of the structure of the NC precursor (cellulose). In this work, microcrystalline cellulose nitrate was successfully produced from an inexpensive and easily renewable source which is Alfa grass. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicates some modifications in the peak positions and intensities, suggesting that a significant difference between conventional and microcrystalline cellulose nitrate samples exists. According to X-ray diffraction results, microcrystalline cellulose nitrate samples were more crystalline than the conventional cellulose nitrate samples, where the increase of the crystallinity is 22 %. The morphology was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, showing a compact structure and a rough surface. In comparison with the commercial nitrocellulose material, the microcrystalline cellulose nitrate particles have good thermal stability, low viscosity, high nitrogen content and important quantity of gas released. Besides on these results, Alfa microcrystalline cellulose nitrate showed tremendous potential use as a propellant and gas generator component or other high value-added applications.

Physicochemical properties of microcrystalline nitrocellulose from Alfa grass fibres and its thermal stability

A Promising Energetic Polymer from Posidonia oceanica Brown Algae: Synthesis, Characterization, and Kinetic Modeling

Organic eutectic mixture as efficient stabilizer for nitrocellulose: Kinetic modeling and stability assessment

Synthesis and characterization of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles from different precursors and their catalytic effect on the thermal decomposition of nitrocellulose

In this study, new highly energetic coordination polymers (ECPs) were successfully prepared by a facile chemical modification method based on functionalized graphene oxide (GO) sheets. Simple cross...

Abderrahmane Mezroua

Papers

Physicochemical properties of microcrystalline nitrocellulose from Alfa grass fibres and its thermal stability

A Promising Energetic Polymer from Posidonia oceanica Brown Algae: Synthesis, Characterization, and Kinetic Modeling

Organic eutectic mixture as efficient stabilizer for nitrocellulose: Kinetic modeling and stability assessment

Synthesis and characterization of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles from different precursors and their catalytic effect on the thermal decomposition of nitrocellulose

Thermostable Energetic Coordination Polymers Based on Functionalized GO and Their Catalytic Effects on the Decomposition of AP and RDX