Agroindustrial residues as alternative sources for nanocellulose production

Properties of nanocellulose vary according their method of production and composition of raw materials. Recently, alternative raw materials such as sub-products of agroindustry and industrial crops have gained significant attention for the production of nanocellulose. This implies an important addition to the biorefinary concept, increasing the value chain of products such as sugar and ethanol. In this work, several raw materials like sugar cane, hemp and banana fibers were used to produce nanofibrillated cellulose (CNF). These CNF were characterized in terms of their suspension behaviour, chemical composition, rheology, morphology and structural behaviour and such properties compared to the nanocellulose traditionally obtained from bleached wood fibres. The suitability of the different materials in application tests such as paper additives and nanocellulose film production will be discussed.