Natural Polymers-Based Green Adsorbents for Water Treatment - Chapter 4: Nanocellulose: A sustainable and renewable material for water and wastewater treatment

Nanocellulose is a sustainable and renewable material that has a high surface area and surface tension, excellent mechanical strength and rigidity, high chemical resistance, good stability, high aspect ratio, and, most importantly, an environment-friendly nature. These salient features of nanocellulose have been recognized as a great and untapped prospect in water and wastewater treatment. The nanocellulose and its derivates have been utilized for the removal of heavy metals, dyes, and salts and showed potential as a sustainable replacement for existing water treatment materials. This chapter discusses the recent advancement in the usage of nanocellulose as an adsorbent for water and wastewater treatment. Finally, we highlight the current challenges and limitations related to nanocellulose derived material applications at an industrial scale.