Sustainable cellulose and nanocellulose production from Amazon forest açaí residues

Cellulose is one of the main constituents of plants and is present in a variety of renewable natural resources. Açaí, an Amazonian fruit, has gained popularity as a “superfood” due to its high levels of antioxidants and bioactive compounds like anthocyanins and flavonoids. The pulp comprises only 10% of its weight, and tons of açaí seeds are discarded without a structured waste management system. Considering the applications of agro-industrial residues in the development of new materials, it has been observed that there is potential for utilizing açaí seeds in the field of nanotechnology, with the sustainable production of cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibers. These nanomaterials offer potential for applications including packaging, textiles, biomedical devices, and environmental remediation. Therefore, this review presents alternative and sustainable sources of cellulose in the agrobiodiversity, with emphasis on the açaí berry, an important native fruit of the Amazon Forest. Techniques for the development of new cellulose-based materials that involve the use of nanotechnology are reported.

Graphical Abstract