ABSTRACT
Globally, the agroindustry produces millions of tons of cellulose waste every year, becoming a contaminant residue. The current population consciousness on the conservation of the environment has led the industry toward the development of eco-friendly products to minimize the environmental effect and, at the same time, implement new materials with unique characteristics in its segment. In this sense, besides their biodegradability, cellulose derivatives are also renewable, biocompatible, and non-toxic. Cellulose derivatives like microcellulose and nanocellulose have high mechanical resistance and thermal properties, like stabilizing agents, absorbents, thickeners, and emulsifiers. These microcellulose and nanocellulose physicochemical properties create an outstanding panorama with multiple applications in the industry that could be used to combine and/or beef up diverse biopolymer matrixes (e.g., collagen, starch, chitosan, etc.). Hence, both microcellulose and nanocellulose have the potential to be used in different complex matrices, such as films or coatings for packing (green, intelligent, and active packaging), aerogels (sorption), water remediation, biomedical applications (biosensors, tissue regeneration), pharmaceutical applications (drug delivery, coatings, drug carriers), electronic (advanced materials and sensors), and textile use (reinforced fibers).
