From natural cellulose to functional nanocomposites for environmental applications

Abstract Heavy metal ions and organic pollutants in the aqueous environment are threatening the ecosystems. Fabricating functional nanocomposites is one of the most promising issues for the control of pollutants. Natural cellulose has attracted widespread attention due to its abundant sources, low prices, good biocompatibility and ample functional groups on the surface. In the last decade, natural cellulose was used as the hard template for the synthesis of nanocomposites with significant mechanical, optical and electrochemical performances. More importantly, the natural cellulose-based nanocomposites usually have large surface areas and abundant activated sites on their surfaces, which are beneficial for sensing and removing pollutants in the aqueous environment. In this chapter, we firstly introduce the fabrication of natural cellulose and its derivatives, then review the natural cellulose-based nanocomposites and their applications in constructing environmental sensing interfaces and the removal of typical pollutants in the aqueous environment, including heavy metal ions and organic substances. The challenges and perspectives are also summarized.