Production of cellulose nanofibers from Aspen and Bode chopsticks using a high temperature and high pressure steam treatment combined with milling

[Display omitted] •Cellulose nanofiber was produced from holocellulose of Aspen and Bode chopsticks.•Holocellulose was obtained from chopsticks by steam treatment combined with milling.•CMP was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, TGA and viscometer.•Cellulose nanofiber with high tensile strength was obtained successfully. Holocellulose was generated from Aspen and Bode chopsticks by high temperature, high pressure steam treatment combined with milling. The steam treatment conditions were increased, the holocellulose component ratio in the treated sample as well as its molecular weight decreased. The treated holocellulose was subjected to grinder treatment to obtain cellulose nanofibers (CNF). Field-emission scanning electron micrographs indicated that CNF were successfully produced. The maximum tensile strength values of 86.9 and 109.9 MPa/(g/cm3) for Aspen and Bode, respectively, were obtained at a steam pressure of 15 atm and steaming time of 5 min. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the optimal molecular weight of holocellulose to produce CNF with high tensile strength was around 1.2 × 105, while the optimal holocellulose recovery rate (HR; the degree of fibrillation was defined as HR in this study) was around 1.00.