Functional Cellulose Beads: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications

A chemical review provides a systematic overview of the preparation of cellulose beads, characterization of their physical properties by different analytical techniques, the preparation of functional cellulose beads by chemical modification, and potential fields of application for these materials. Special emphasis has been put on the existing and future developments introduced in the field with the discovery of novel cellulose solvents such as ionic liquids and aqueous systems. These solvents show promising features with regard to the environmental, economical, and safety concerns of applied dissolution processes, which has resulted in a significant increase in research regarding the preparation of advanced cellulose materials, driving interest in cellulose beads. The term 'functional cellulose beads' refers to materials prepared by heterogeneous chemical modification of cellulose beads or by the inclusion of inorganic and organic materials into them.