Structure and Surface Modification Techniques for Production of Value-Added Biocomposites

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Since an increase in environmental awareness and global waste problems, eco-friendly biocomposites have emerged as promising alternative materials for reinforcement of biodegradable plastics production and the future applications in many industrial sectors. Natural fibers or lignocellulose shows many advantages such as renewability, sustainability and being abundant biomaterials resources which is suitable for the production of high value-added biocomposites. Notwithstanding, development of the production processes, especially natural fibers treatment or modification, is still necessary for the future fabrication of cellulose/nanocellulose reinforced biocomposites, due to the presence of some restrictions of cellulose structure, such as poor interfacial adhesion with hydrophobic matrices and high water absorption. In this work, physical, chemical and biological treatment techniques have been briefly reviewed and concluded for the introduction of surface modification processes. Among these techniques, oxidation method by using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) as a catalytic agent has been thoroughly discussed, to disclose its great potential for cellulose surface modification under mild condition and low production cost of the biocomposites production process. Eventually, several studies concerning the production of high value-added biocomposites from the surface-modified cellulose nanofibers via TEMPO-mediated oxidation, i.e., functional biomaterials, catalytic systems, biochemical process, medical biomaterials, drug delivery, biosensor, and food applications, have been demonstrated empirically.