Advances in nanocellulose-based materials as adsorbents of heavy metals and dyes

In recent years, nanocellulose-based materials have been increasingly applied as a lot of biosorbents for the treatment of water pollutants due to their large specific surface area, easy modification, environmental friendliness, and reproducibility. In this review, surface modification of nanocellulose-based adsorbents with various effective adsorption groups is described, as well as polymer grafting and hybrid composite fabrication. The adsorption mechanisms involved in the adsorption process of pollutants by adsorbents are further analysed and summarized. The regeneration methods of nanocellulose adsorbents with different adsorption mechanisms are also demonstrated. In addition, this paper also briefly describes the forms of nanocellulose-based adsorbents with large-scale application including membranes, gels, flocculants and magnetic composites.