Advances and open issues on the sustainable top-down production of nanocellulose

With the increasing demand for sustainable materials, nanocellulose has emerged as one of the most promising candidates. Due to its abundance, exceptional mechanical and chemical properties, versatility, and safety, cellulose is garnering significant attention from researchers and industries. In this context, ensuring the sustainable production of nanocellulose is essential to align the material’s intrinsic eco-friendly characteristics with an environmentally responsible manufacturing process. This chapter explores the production of nanocellulose, providing a comprehensive overview of the techniques used to extract cellulose from biomass, the pretreatments designed to facilitate nanoscale refinement, the mechanical processes employed to produce nanocellulose, the drying methods applied to dewater the material, and the challenges associated with scaling up production.