Eco-friendly extraction of cellulose nanocrystals from grape pomace and construction of self-healing nanocomposite hydrogels

Extensive grape pomace from red-winemaking may seriously pollute the environment and cause the waste of resources. Cellulose after fermentation in grape pomace is suitable as the source of extract outstanding cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Herein, CNCs were successfully extracted from grape pomace with an eco-friendly and facile deep eutectic solvent (DES). The green DES with the composition of lactic acid/choline chloride (the molar ratio was 2:1), were used to fabricate CNCs. Importantly, the obtained CNCs as a robust nanocomposite can be successfully utilized to prepare the self-healing nanocomposite hydrogels. After added of Fe(III) and borax, the excellent self-healing performance of the guar gum-based hydrogels were achieved by the reversible noncovalent bonding interaction. Specifically, the hydrogels showed good mechanical properties (the stress was about 0.95 MPa, the strain was about 170%) and self-healing ability (the self-healing efficiency was about 90.0%). These biologically self-healing nanocomposite hydrogels can greatly broaden the recycling and utilization of grape pomace.