Cellulose/nanocellulose superabsorbent hydrogels as a sustainable platform for materials applications: A mini-review and perspective

Zhen Zhang; Noureddine Abidi; Lucian Lucia; Sakineh Chabi; Christian T Denny; Prakash Parajuli; Shaida Sultana Rumi

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120140

Cellulose/nanocellulose superabsorbent hydrogels as a sustainable platform for materials applications: A mini-review and perspective

Carbohydr Polym. 2023 Jan 1:299:120140. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120140. Epub 2022 Sep 22.

Authors

Zhen Zhang¹, Noureddine Abidi², Lucian Lucia³, Sakineh Chabi⁴, Christian T Denny⁵, Prakash Parajuli⁶, Shaida Sultana Rumi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, Department of Soil and Plant Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Forest Biomaterials, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. Electronic address: zha03518@ttu.edu.
² Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, Department of Soil and Plant Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA. Electronic address: noureddine.abidi@ttu.edu.
³ Department of Forest Biomaterials, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Department of Chemistry, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, NC State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Raleigh, NC, USA. Electronic address: lalucia@ncsu.edu.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
⁵ Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
⁶ Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, Department of Soil and Plant Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.

PMID: 36876763
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120140

Abstract

Superabsorbent hydrogels (SAH) are crosslinked three-dimensional networks distinguished by their super capacity to stabilize a large quantity of water without dissolving. Such behavior enables them to engage in various applications. Cellulose and its derived nanocellulose can become SAHs as an appealing, versatile, and sustainable platform because of abundance, biodegradability, and renewability compared to petroleum-based materials. In this review, a synthetic strategy that reflects starting cellulosic resources to their associated synthons, crosslinking types, and synthetic controlling factors was highlighted. Representative examples of cellulose and nanocellulose SAH and an in-depth discussion of structure-absorption relationships were listed. Finally, various applications of cellulose and nanocellulose SAH, challenges and existing problems, and proposed future research pathways were listed.

Keywords: Aerogel; Application; Cellulose and nanocellulose; Hydrogel; Superabsorbent; Xerogel.

Publication types

Review