Biodegradability: Effects of Nanosizing and Chemical Modification

The increasing production and use of nanocellulose materials (NCMs) raise concerns regarding their environmental release and biodegradability. This chapter reviews existing literature on the biodegradability of cellulose nanofibrils (also referred to as cellulose nanofibers; CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and presents findings from the NEDO project, which specifically investigated the biodegradability of CNFs, with a focus on the effects of nanosizing and chemical modification. The results indicate that both CNFs and CNCs are generally biodegradable in a manner comparable to conventional cellulose. Although chemical modifications can influence biodegradability, general environmental tests conducted under the NEDO project demonstrate that TEMPO-oxidized, phosphorylated, and acetylated CNFs meet the criteria for ready biodegradability.