Biodegradability of Cellulose Fibers, Films, and Particles: A Review
Cellulose fibers are an abundant material that is well known for its biodegradability. Various forms of cellulose, such as cotton, paper pulp fibers, and microcrystalline cellulose can be regarded as benchmarks for biodegradability, when comparing other materials. However, as revealed by the literat...
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North Carolina State University
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24209 |
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| author | Martin A. Hubbe Jesse S. Daystar Richard A. Venditti Joel J. Pawlak Marielis C. Zambrano Morton Barlaz Mary Ankeny Steven Pires |
| author_facet | Martin A. Hubbe Jesse S. Daystar Richard A. Venditti Joel J. Pawlak Marielis C. Zambrano Morton Barlaz Mary Ankeny Steven Pires |
| author_sort | Martin A. Hubbe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cellulose fibers are an abundant material that is well known for its biodegradability. Various forms of cellulose, such as cotton, paper pulp fibers, and microcrystalline cellulose can be regarded as benchmarks for biodegradability, when comparing other materials. However, as revealed by the literature, broad ranges of time and extent of biodegradation have been reported for cellulose. These large ranges can be attributed not only to environmental factors but also to the presence of lignin, the degree and perfection of crystallinity, the size and density of the physical specimens, and chemical modifications to the cellulose, if any. Studies also have shown differences in biodegradability associated with the selection of test methods. Although cellulose is subject to well-known enzyme-promoted mechanisms of biodegradation, the evolution of plant materials has favored development of some resistance to decay, i.e. recalcitrance. Cellulosic materials are clearly less biodegradable than starch. However, they are more biodegradable than various synthetic or bio-based plastics, as well as some cellulose derivatives, which persist in ocean water or soils for very long periods. This review indicates that cellulose biodegradability, while generally rapid and natural, has a rate and extent that depends on a complex and sometimes subtle set of environmental and chemical factors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-86fc140c33c04e7587e092677b270085 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1930-2126 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | North Carolina State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BioResources |
| spelling | doaj-art-86fc140c33c04e7587e092677b2700852025-02-11T00:00:29ZengNorth Carolina State UniversityBioResources1930-21262025-02-01201239124582743Biodegradability of Cellulose Fibers, Films, and Particles: A ReviewMartin A. Hubbe0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2321-4218Jesse S. Daystar1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4513-2803Richard A. Venditti2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7986-4092Joel J. Pawlak3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9803-9004Marielis C. Zambrano4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6857-863XMorton Barlaz5https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8028-3917Mary Ankeny6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6375-9802Steven Pires7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6558-0611Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005 USACotton Incorporated, 6300 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27516, USADepartment of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005 USADepartment of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005 USADepartment of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 8005, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8005 USADept. of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7908, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7908 USACotton Incorporated, 6300 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27516, USACotton Incorporated, 6300 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27516, USACellulose fibers are an abundant material that is well known for its biodegradability. Various forms of cellulose, such as cotton, paper pulp fibers, and microcrystalline cellulose can be regarded as benchmarks for biodegradability, when comparing other materials. However, as revealed by the literature, broad ranges of time and extent of biodegradation have been reported for cellulose. These large ranges can be attributed not only to environmental factors but also to the presence of lignin, the degree and perfection of crystallinity, the size and density of the physical specimens, and chemical modifications to the cellulose, if any. Studies also have shown differences in biodegradability associated with the selection of test methods. Although cellulose is subject to well-known enzyme-promoted mechanisms of biodegradation, the evolution of plant materials has favored development of some resistance to decay, i.e. recalcitrance. Cellulosic materials are clearly less biodegradable than starch. However, they are more biodegradable than various synthetic or bio-based plastics, as well as some cellulose derivatives, which persist in ocean water or soils for very long periods. This review indicates that cellulose biodegradability, while generally rapid and natural, has a rate and extent that depends on a complex and sometimes subtle set of environmental and chemical factors.https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24209cellulaserecalcitranceseawatersoilwastewatertextilesenvironmental impacts |
| spellingShingle | Martin A. Hubbe Jesse S. Daystar Richard A. Venditti Joel J. Pawlak Marielis C. Zambrano Morton Barlaz Mary Ankeny Steven Pires Biodegradability of Cellulose Fibers, Films, and Particles: A Review BioResources cellulase recalcitrance seawater soil wastewater textiles environmental impacts |
| title | Biodegradability of Cellulose Fibers, Films, and Particles: A Review |
| title_full | Biodegradability of Cellulose Fibers, Films, and Particles: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Biodegradability of Cellulose Fibers, Films, and Particles: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodegradability of Cellulose Fibers, Films, and Particles: A Review |
| title_short | Biodegradability of Cellulose Fibers, Films, and Particles: A Review |
| title_sort | biodegradability of cellulose fibers films and particles a review |
| topic | cellulase recalcitrance seawater soil wastewater textiles environmental impacts |
| url | https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24209 |
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