. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Aug 21.

Published in final edited form as: Environ Sci Technol. 2015 Apr 15;49(9):5277–5287. doi: 10.1021/es506351r

Table 1.

Comparison of Cellulose Nanomaterials and Carbon Nanotubes Including Chemical and Physical Properties, Production, Applications and Disposal

	Cellulose Nanomaterials		Carbon Nanotubes		Ref
	CNCs	CNFs	SWCNTs	MWCNTs	Ref
Physical Properties
Diameter	5–70 nm	5–100 nm	0.4–2 nm	2–100 nm	5,44
Length	100–250 nm	several microns	microns-millimeters	microns-centimeters
Size distribution	Polydisperse	Polydisperse	Mono- or Polydisperse depending on preparation	Mono- or Polydisperse depending on preparation
Tensile Strength	2–6 GPa	2–4 GPa	13–52 GPa	11–63 GPa	98–100
Young’s Modulus	50–143 GPa	15–150 GPa	0.32–1.47 TPa	0.27–0.95 TPa	98–100
Conductivity	None		σ= 10²–10⁸ S/m		44, 100–101
Optical Properties	Transparent and Iridescent films	Transparent films	None		102
Life Cycle Assessment
Manufacturing (Energy requirement)	500–2,300 kWht⁻¹		278,000–250,200,000 kWht⁻¹		5 103
Source	Wood, cotton, hemp, flax, wheat straw, ramie, sugar beet, potato tuber, tunicin, algae, certain bacteria (Gluconacetobacter xylinus)		Fossil fuels		5
Cost	$1/g (dry)	$2/g (dry)	$80–$280/g	$8–$15/g	41
Cost	$5/g (slurry)	$3/g (slurry)	$80–$280/g	$8–$15/g	41
Major Use/Application	Paper, packaging, plastic film, cement, automotive components, food products, drug delivery, biomedical implants, wound dressings		Microelectronics, solar cells	Strength enhancers, coatings/films, biosensors, medical devices, drug delivery	8, 104
Ecotoxicity	Low toxicity	Low toxicity	Oxidative stress and inflammation; Inhalation and dermal exposure considered largest risk		43, 105
Ecotoxicity	Some proinflammatory cytokines	Some pulmonary inflammation			43, 105
Disposal	Biodegradable by organisms with cellulase enzymes		Persistent, non-degradable		105–106

Calculated from suppliers: University of Maine Process Development Center, Cheap Tubes Inc., Buckyusa, Carbon Solutions Inc., U.S. Research Nanomaterials Inc.