Cellulose based membranes, hydrogels and aerogels for water treatment application

Water scarcity and pollution are significant challenges worldwide, emphasizing the necessity for developing efficient and sustainable solutions for removing contaminants from water. Using cellulose-based materials like membranes, hydrogels, and aerogels for water treatment applications has gained significant interest in recent years. These materials offer several advantages including high biodegradability, hydrophilicity, non-toxicity and low energy requirement. Owing to cellulose's innate hydrophilicity, these materials readily interact with water molecules, rendering them exceptionally suitable for diverse water treatment applications. Cellulose-based materials demonstrate significant efficacy in eliminating heavy metals, oil, microorganisms, dyes and other pollutants from wastewater. This review article provides valuable insights into the promising possibilities of cellulose-based materials as effective and sustainable alternatives for water treatment. It includes an overview of various methods for the fabrication of regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate and nanocellulose based membranes as well as cellulose based hydrogels and aerogels. The effect of various modifications such as nanoparticle incorporation, polymer grafting, and others on the water treatment potential of the membranes is discussed. It further outlines the performance and mechanisms of cellulose based materials in the removal of various types of contaminants such as heavy metals, oils, salts and dyes from water. Finally, the life cycle assessment of the cellulose based materials for water treatment along with challenges and future perspectives are discussed.