Microcrystalline cellulose: Isolation, characterization and bio-composites application-A review

•This work provides an up-to date review on methods for isolation and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC).•Interest for MCC is exponentially increasing.•New sources, new isolation processes, new treatments induce new types of MCC materials for industrialization.•Opportunities of MCC-based composite polymers for the future are presented and discussed.

Considering its widespread usage in various fields, such as food, pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic and polymer composites industries, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is becoming impellent due to increasing demand of alternatives to non-renewable and scarce fossil materials. Although it still suffers from some drawbacks, MCC has recently gained more interest owing to its renewability, non-toxicity, economic value, biodegradability, high mechanical properties, high surface area and biocompatibility. New sources, new isolation processes, and new treatments are currently under development to satisfy the increasing demand of producing new types of MCC-based materials on an industrial scale. Therefore, this review assembles the current knowledge on the isolation of MCC from different sources using various procedures, its characterization, and its application in bio-composites. Challenges and future opportunities of MCC-based composites are discussed as well as obstacles remaining for their extensive uses.

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