Open Access

REVIEW

Extraction, Utilization, Functional Modification, and Application of Cellulose and Its Derivatives

Wohua He, Fangji Wu, Haoqun Hong^*

Department of Polymer Material and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology (GDUT), Guangzhou, 510006, China

* Corresponding Author: Haoqun Hong. Email:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2025, 13(9), 1707-1763. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0005

Received 04 January 2025; Accepted 18 March 2025; Issue published 22 September 2025

Abstract

Under the background of the current energy crisis and environmental pollution, the development of green and sustainable materials has become particularly urgent. As one of the most abundant natural polymers on earth, cellulose has attracted wide attention due to its green recycling, sustainable development, degradability, and low cost. Therefore, cellulose and its derivatives were used as the starting point for comprehensive analysis. First, the basic structural properties of cellulose were discussed, and then the extraction and utilization methods of cellulose were reviewed, including Sodium Hydroxide based solvent system, N, N-Dimethylacetamide/Lithium Chloride System, N-Methylmorpholine-N-Oxide (NMMO) system, ionic liquids (ILs) system, and deep eutectic solvent (DES) system. Then, the functional modification techniques of cellulose are introduced, including nano-modification, small molecule modification, and macromolecular modification. Finally, the potential applications of cellulose in the fields of reinforcement materials, self-healing materials, radioactive cooling, nanogenerators, and biomedicine were discussed. At the end of this paper, the challenges and future development direction of cellulose materials are prospectively analyzed, aiming at providing guidance and inspiration for the research and application in related fields.

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