Recent advances in cellulose supported photocatalysis for pollutant mitigation: A review

In recent times, green chemistry or green world is a new and effective approach for sustainable environmental remediation. Among all biomaterials, cellulose is a vital material in research and green chemistry. Cellulose is the most commonly used natural biopolymer because of its distinctive and exceptional properties such as repro-ducibility, cost-effectiveness, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and universality. Generally, coupling cellulose with other nanocomposite materials enhances the properties like porosity and specific surface area. The polymer is environment-friendly, bioresorbable, and sustainable which not only justifies the requirements of a good photocatalyst but boosts the adsorption ability and degradation efficiency of the nanocomposite. Hence, knowing the role of cellulose to enhance photocatalytic activity, the present review is focused on the properties of cel-lulose and its application in antibiotics, textile dyes, phenol and Cr(VI) reduction, and degradation. The work also highlighted the degradation mechanism of cellulose-based photocatalysts, confirming cellulose's role as a support material to act as a sink and electron mediator, suppressing the charge carrier's recombination rate and enhancing the charge migration ability. The review also covers the latest progressions, leanings, and challenges of cellulose biomaterials-based nanocomposites in the photocatalysis field.

Automated summary

Green chemistry or green world is an effective approach for sustainable environmental remediation. Cellulose, as a vital biomaterial, is commonly used in research and green chemistry due to its distinctive properties. Coupling cellulose with other nanocomposite materials enhances properties like porosity and specific surface area. This review focuses on the properties of cellulose and its application in various fields, such as antibiotics, textile dyes, phenol and Cr(VI) reduction, and degradation. The review also covers the degradation mechanism and latest progressions in cellulose-based nanocomposites for photocatalysis.