Conversion of waste phytoremediation biomass into adhesive using a novel deep eutectic solvent

The use of deep eutectic solvent (DES) -based treatment is a potential solution for the effective disposal of heavy -metal -enriched biomass. However, energy -intensive recycling and inefficient reusability of DESs hinder industrialization of the process. Herein, instead of recycling DESs, we design a novel DES and develop a simultaneous process including biomass pretreatment and conversion of the obtained DES into an adhesive. The treatment successfully removes approximately 97% of Cd from the biomass, over 60% of lignin, and a small amount of polysaccharides. The inclusion of these components improves the adhesion of the DES, with the mechanism revealed by the molecular dynamics simulations. In addition, by incorporating a polymer network, the DES -based adhesive acquires superior adhesion strength and resistance to harsh environments. The techno-economic analysis reveals the competitive economic performance of this adhesive. These results offer a promising waste -free strategy for a synergetic utilization of heavy -metal -enriched plants.