Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Retain strength, gain ductility: tough and transparent nanopapers by mercerisation

Researchers improved the toughness and transparency of nanocellulose papers — a potential plastic alternative — through a simple alkali treatment called mercerisation. The treated papers maintained high strength while gaining greater flexibility, making nanocellulose a more viable candidate for replacing conventional plastic films in packaging.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanocellulose Hybrid Lignin Complex Reinforces Cellulose to Form a Strong, Water-Stable Lignin–Cellulose Composite Usable as a Plastic Replacement

This study developed a strong, water-stable composite material made from cellulose and lignin extracted from agricultural waste (sugarcane bagasse), as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. The lignin-cellulose composite showed dramatically improved wet strength compared to regular cellulose sheets, demonstrating potential as a biodegradable plastic replacement that would not generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2021 Nanomaterials 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose nanofibers/polyvinyl alcohol blends as an efficient coating to improve the hydrophobic and oleophobic properties of paper

Researchers developed a paper coating made from cellulose nanofibers and polyvinyl alcohol and found it significantly improved paper's resistance to both water and grease while also increasing tensile strength, offering a potentially more sustainable alternative to the plastic-based coatings currently used in food packaging.

2022 Scientific Reports 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Dual‐Network Cellulosic Composite Bioplastic Metafilm for Plastic Substitute

Researchers created a new type of cellulose-based bioplastic film using a dual-network design strategy that overcomes common weaknesses of plant-based materials like brittleness and water sensitivity. The resulting material showed exceptional mechanical toughness and resistance to fire and moisture, making it competitive with conventional petroleum-based plastics. The study presents a promising biodegradable alternative that could help reduce plastic pollution.

2023 Angewandte Chemie International Edition 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Leveraging Intrinsic Hemicellulose in Cellulose Nanopaper for Enhanced Nanoplastic Collection

Researchers developed a cellulose-based nanopaper that can efficiently capture nanoplastics from water using natural hemicellulose as a key component. The hemicellulose enhances the paper's ability to adsorb plastic nanoparticles through stronger molecular interactions and creates a porous structure that works well under flowing water conditions. As a bonus, the used nanopaper loaded with captured plastics can be recycled into high-performance composite materials.

2025 ACS Nano 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Renewable cellulosic nanocomposites for food packaging to avoid fossil fuel plastic pollution: a review

Researchers reviewed how cellulose nanoparticles extracted from plant biomass can replace petroleum-based plastics in food packaging, finding that adding just 1–5% cellulose nanoparticles significantly improves strength, reduces oxygen and water vapor permeability, and keeps packaging biodegradable. The review positions cellulose nanocomposites as a scalable, eco-friendly alternative to fossil-fuel plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.

2020 Environmental Chemistry Letters 222 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano/Micro Hybrid Bamboo Fibrous Preforms for Robust Biodegradable Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Researchers created strong, eco-friendly composite materials by combining nano- and micro-scale fibers from bamboo, producing a biodegradable plastic alternative with improved mechanical properties. This work contributes to developing sustainable materials that could replace conventional petroleum-based plastics and reduce microplastic generation.

2021 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Leveraging IntrinsicHemicellulose in Cellulose Nanopaperfor Enhanced Nanoplastic Collection

Researchers demonstrated that cellulose nanopaper assembled from cellulose nanofibrils containing intrinsic hemicellulose can efficiently capture diversified nanoplastics from aqueous environments through interfacial adsorption and physical interception, leveraging the hierarchical lignocellulose microstructure for enhanced nanoplastic collection.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Ecological packaging: Creating sustainable solutions with all-natural biodegradable cellulose materials

Researchers developed a pure cellulose food packaging material by combining bacterial cellulose and ethyl cellulose — both natural, biodegradable materials — into a strong, water-resistant film that degrades naturally and avoids the microplastic pollution associated with conventional single-use plastic packaging. The material's mechanical strength, water resistance, and recyclability position it as a practical plastic replacement for food packaging.

2024 Giant 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose Nanopaper: A Study of Composition and Surface Modifications to Develop Sustainably-Sourced Alternatives to Plastics

This study developed cellulose nanopaper — derived from wood pulp — with surface modifications to improve its properties as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastic packaging films. The research addresses the need for biodegradable packaging materials that reduce the plastic waste that becomes microplastic contamination.

2017 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microcrystalline cellulose grafted hyperbranched polyester with roll comb structure for synergistic toughening and strengthening of PHBV/ bio-based polyester elastomer composites

Researchers developed fully bio-based composite materials by combining a biodegradable polyester with cellulose-grafted polymer structures, significantly improving the toughness of otherwise brittle bioplastics. Stronger bioplastics could replace conventional plastics in more applications, reducing long-term microplastic generation from plastic products.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

High-strength alginate fibers wet-spun from pre-crosslinked sodium alginate solutions

Scientists developed a new method for making stronger alginate fibers from seaweed-derived materials as a biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based synthetic fibers. The resulting fibers had breaking strength of 474 MPa, exceeding most plant-based fibers without additives. Replacing synthetic fibers like polyester with biodegradable alternatives is important because synthetic textiles are one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution through washing and wear.

2024 Carbohydrate Polymers 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and Characterization of Reinforced Flexible Packaging Based on Amazonian Cassava Starch Through Flat Sheet Extrusion

Scientists created eco-friendly food packaging from cassava starch (a plant-based material) mixed with natural ingredients like beeswax and plantain leaf fibers. This new packaging is much stronger and better at keeping moisture out than regular plant-based plastics, making it a promising replacement for petroleum-based plastic bags. This matters because it could help reduce plastic pollution while still protecting our food effectively.

2026 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Seawater-degradable, tough, and fully bio-derived nonwoven polyester fibres reinforced with mechanically defibrated cellulose nanofibres

Researchers developed a fully bio-derived bioplastic fiber combining PHBH polymer with cellulose nanofibers that degrades in seawater while maintaining good mechanical properties, offering a promising alternative to conventional synthetic fibers that shed persistent microplastics.

2022 Environmental Science Nano 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation and Characterization of Degradable Cellulose−Based Paper with Superhydrophobic, Antibacterial, and Barrier Properties for Food Packaging

Researchers prepared food packaging paper coated with polylactic acid and cinnamaldehyde as a barrier layer and nano silica-modified stearic acid as a superhydrophobic outer layer, creating a cellulose-based alternative to plastic packaging. The resulting material showed excellent water resistance, thermal stability, and antimicrobial activity while being made from renewable and biodegradable components.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Controlled surface acetylation of cellulosics to tune biodegradability while expanding their use towards common petrochemical-based plastics

Not relevant to microplastics — this study demonstrates surface acetylation of cellulose paper fibers to improve wet strength and moisture resistance while maintaining biodegradability, positioned as an alternative to petrochemical plastics.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradable Polymeric Waxes for Paper Coating Applications

Scientists created degradable wax-like polymers that can coat paper packaging to make it water- and oil-resistant, offering an alternative to traditional plastic coatings. Unlike conventional plastic-coated paper, these coated papers can be broken down and recycled through standard paper repulping. This kind of innovation could help reduce the microplastic pollution that comes from plastic-coated packaging materials breaking down in the environment.

2024 ACS Applied Polymer Materials 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing PolyelectrolyteStrength of Biopolymersfor Fully Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics

Researchers developed a fully recyclable and biodegradable plastic material created through solid polyelectrolyte complexation of naturally occurring biopolymers, enhancing their polyelectrolyte strength to achieve mechanical properties competitive with conventional single-use packaging plastics. The study demonstrated that this approach addresses both the microplastic pollution problem and fossil fuel dependence while enabling end-of-life recyclability.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Development of cellulose films by means of the Ioncell® technology, as an alternative to commercial films

Researchers developed thin, transparent cellulose films using an eco-friendly ionic liquid-based process called Ioncell technology, producing films with mechanical strength exceeding commercial cellophane — without harmful chemicals. These plant-based films offer a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to plastic packaging films, directly addressing microplastic pollution from conventional plastic wrap.

2023 Cellulose 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanocellulose as Sustainable Bio-Nanomaterial for Packaging and Biomedical Applications

This review examines the potential of nanocellulose, a material derived from plant fibers, as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics in packaging and biomedical applications. Researchers found that nanocellulose can provide effective moisture and gas barriers when used in paper-based packaging, reducing the need for plastic coatings. The study highlights nanocellulose as a biodegradable, renewable material that could help address both plastic waste and food preservation challenges.

2024 Scientific and Social Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose Nanofibrils Dewatered with Poly(Lactic Acid) for Improved Bio-Polymer Nanocomposite Processing

This paper is not about environmental microplastics; it describes a manufacturing process for combining cellulose nanofibers with polylactic acid (a biodegradable bioplastic) to make stronger composite materials, with no relevance to plastic pollution or human health risk.

2024 Nanomaterials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Supramolecular Ionic Polymerization: Cellulose-Based Supramolecular Plastics with Broadly Tunable Mechanical Properties

Researchers developed a cellulose-based supramolecular plastic by combining carboxymethyl cellulose with a hyperbranched polyguanidinium ion through ionic bonding. The resulting material demonstrated broadly tunable mechanical properties including high strength and stretchability comparable to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The study presents a promising approach for creating sustainable, biodegradable plastic alternatives from renewable biomass resources that could help reduce microplastic pollution.

2025 Journal of the American Chemical Society 1 citations
Article Tier 2

In Situ Synthesis of Plasticized Bacterial Cellulose Films for Daily Packaging Using Biobased Plasticizers

Researchers synthesized plasticized bacterial cellulose films in situ and characterized their mechanical, optical, and barrier properties for daily packaging applications, finding the bio-based materials offered competitive performance with lower environmental impact than petroleum-based alternatives.

2025 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A Fully Plant-Based Water- and Oil-Resistant Paper Composite

Researchers developed a fully plant-based paper composite coated with lignin as a water- and oil-resistant alternative to plastic-coated or PFAS-treated food packaging. Optimized hot-pressing conditions produced a coating that resisted water for 100 minutes and oil for 25 minutes, and the material fully biodegraded in garden soil within 56 days.

2024 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 7 citations