Cellulose as a photocatalyst support material: extraction, structural features, and environmental applications.
Yee Teng Lim1, Nur Farhana Jaafar1, Azizul Hakim Lahuri2
1School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Penang, Malaysia.
Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
|May 20, 2026
Summary
Cellulose, derived from abundant biomass, is a sustainable material. This review explores its extraction and use as a support for photocatalysts in environmental remediation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Cellulose is the most abundant renewable biopolymer, sourced from plant biomass.
- Its properties like low cost, biodegradability, and non-toxicity make it ideal for sustainable material development.
- Biomass waste presents an underutilized resource for cellulose extraction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cellulose extraction and isolation methods from diverse biomass waste.
- To highlight cellulose's role as a support matrix in photocatalytic applications.
- To emphasize cellulose's contribution to eco-friendly environmental remediation technologies.
Main Methods:
- Review of conventional and advanced cellulose extraction techniques (acid hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, oxidation, mechanical/solvent methods).
- Analysis of cellulose's structural properties relevant to photocatalysis (high surface area, porosity, functional groups).
- Examination of cellulose-supported photocatalyst systems (ZnO, TiO2, Cu2O, nanocomposites).
Main Results:
- Cellulose effectively supports photocatalysts, preventing nanoparticle aggregation and enhancing pollutant adsorption.
- Cellulose-based photocatalytic systems demonstrate improved efficiency under various light sources.
- These systems exhibit enhanced recyclability and mechanical durability for wastewater treatment.
Conclusions:
- Cellulose's structural attributes are crucial for its photocatalytic functionality.
- Cellulose-supported photocatalysts offer a green and efficient solution for environmental challenges.
- Cellulose is a key component in developing next-generation, eco-friendly photocatalytic technologies.
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