All-biomass-based strong nanocomposite fibers of agar and cellulose nanocrystals and their dye removal applications

Fiber-based commodities represent a substantial fraction of plastic waste, leading to environmental harm. Discarded sanitary masks and fishing equipment undergo degradation, generating microfiber plastics, thereby presenting a notable hazard to both human health and the ecosystem. In this study, mechanically strong and environmentally friendly nanocomposite fibers were prepared by dry-jet wet spinning. The all-biomass-based fibers comprised agar and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as the matrix and nanofiller, respectively, and were highly miscible in deionized water as a cosolvent. Based on rheological characterization, the optimal spinning concentration and temperature were set to 13