Abstract
In this study, a green, environmentally friendly method for rapid cellulose nanofribril (CNF) preparation with a significant cost advantage was developed. Pretreatment with a deep eutectic solvent (DES) synthesized from oxalic acid dihydrate and choline chloride (ChCl-O) was combined with various mechanical treatment methods to produce okara CNFs from agricultural waste, with different diameter distributions. The results showed that high-speed stirring produced CNFs with an average diameter of 27 nm. This method was advantageous because it consumed about 94% less energy than traditional high-pressure homogenization method. The DES recovery rate was more than 90%, and DES served as a highly effective treatment, indicating that DES pretreatment is an economical, convenient, and effective strategy for okara CNF preparation.