As a renewable material

cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) have good performance for removal of the metal ions from wastewater dut to their excellent surface area

high crystallinity

high strength

high Young's modulus

high surface activity

and chemical stability. So

in this paper the modifications of cellulose and its application to adsorb heavy metal ions were reviewed. Firstly

the structure and naming method of nanocellulose are briefly introduced. Secondly

the modifications of nanocellulose (ie

small molecule modification and polymer modification) are introduced respectively

and the modified nanocellulose-based materials are focused on describing in application of removing water metal ions by adsorption in two different forms of powder and gel (including hydrogel and aerogel). Finally

the advantages and disadvantages of the modified nanocellulose-based absotbent materials were discussed

and the problems that the materials need to solve during the production and application process were pointed out.