Trends and prospects of microfibrillated cellulose in bio-industries

Abstract

In this review, we focus on one of the most attractive biomaterials, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). MFC, a type of nanocellulose, mainly originates from cellulose in lignocellulosic biomass. MFC represents one of incredible important natural resources due to its abundancy, renewability, and sustainability. MFC is produced through mechanical pretreatment, and it is composed of various sizes of microfibers, ranging from a few nanometers to a few micrometers. Because of the heterogenetic compositions of MFC, it possesses superior properties as a material, such as high surface area, high aspect ratio, and peculiar insolubility as a biomaterial. These properties allow MFC to be used in various bio-industries, from the traditional pulp industry to the high-tech food/bio/chemical/medical industries. However, it is difficult to use MFC on a commercial scale owing to the high energy input required during its production and the challenge of controlling its reactivity. Therefore, future studies should be focused on accurately characterizing MFC's surface morphologies, regulating its characteristics in a desirable direction, and standardizing proper guidelines for the analysis of surface morphologies its analysis.