Cellulose-based dispersants and flocculants

Natural dispersants and flocculants, often referred to as dispersion stabilisers and liquid–solid separators, respectively, have secured a promising role in the bioprocessing community. They have various applications, including in biomedicine and in environmental remediation. A large fraction of existing dispersants and flocculants are synthesised from non-safe chemical compounds such as polyacrylamide and surfactants.

Despite numerous advantages of synthetic dispersants and flocculants, issues such as renewability, sustainability, biocompatibility, and cost efficiency have shifted attention towards natural homologues, in particular, cellulose-based ones. Within the past decade, cellulose derivatives, obtained via chemical and mechanical treatments of cellulose fibrils, have successfully been used for these purposes.

Sustainable green technology
In a new review article, by dividing the functional cellulosic compounds into “polymeric” and “nanoscale” categories, scientists provide insight into the engineering pathways, the structural frameworks, and surface chemistry of these “green” types of dispersants and flocculants. A summary of their efficiency and the controlling parameters is also accompanied by recent advances in their applications in each section.

The publishers are confident that the emergence of cellulose-based dispersing and flocculating agents will extend the boundaries of sustainable green technology.