Production of Nanocellulose Using Hydrated Deep Eutectic Solvent Combined with Ultrasonic Treatment

Pretreatment approaches are highly desirable to improve the commercial viability of nanocellulose production. In this study, we propose a new approach to mass produce nanocellulose using a hydrated choline chloride/oxalic acid dihydrate deep eutectic solvent (DES) combined with an ultrasonic process. The hydrogen bond acidity, polarizability, and solvation effect reflected by the Kamlet–Taft solvatochromic parameters did not decrease even after the addition of large amounts of water. Instead, the water facilitated the ionization of H+ and delocalization of Cl– ions, forming new Cl–H2O ionic hydrogen and oxalate–H2O hydrogen bonds, which are critical for improving the solvent characteristics. One pass of kraft pulp through the hydrated DESs (80 °C, 1 h) was sufficient to dissociate the kraft pulp into cellulose nanofibers or cellulose nanocrystals using an 800 W ultrasonic treatment. The present study represents an alternative route for the kraft pulp pretreatment and the large-scale production of nanocellulose.