Enhanced Absorbent Products Incorporating Cellulose and Its Derivatives: A Review

Cellulose and some cellulose derivatives can play vital roles in the enhancement of the performance of absorbent products.Cellulose itself, in the form of cellulosic fibers or nano-fibers, can provide structure, bulk, water-holding capacity, and channeling of fluids over a wide dimensional range.Likewise, cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) have been widely studied as components in superabsorbent polymer (SAP) formulations.The present review focuses on strategies and mechanisms in which inclusion of cellulosein its various formscan enhance either the capacity or the rate of aqueous fluid absorption in various potential applications.