Chapter 5 - Recent perception into the extraction of nanocellulose: cross talk between natural resources and progressive applications

Abstract

Green chemistry is considered eco-friendly, and the study of the extraction of nanocellulose (NC) from natural resources is vital to its wide application in research and industry. In addition, the rich hydroxyl groups present in the components of lignocellulosic biomass, the source for NC, can be modified using chemical regeneration. NC is classified predominantly into two classes based on morphology: nanostructured materials and nanofibers. Various types of NC can be extracted from cellulosic biomass using physical and chemical processes followed by refinement techniques. The methods may differ depending on the class of the NC of interest. The chapter briefly reviews the extraction of diverse NC or cellulose nanomaterials from various cellulosic sources, pre- and posttreatment requirements, and processing methods with their potential applications. The effect of methodology selection on unique physicochemical properties is also elaborated.