Abstract: Processes for the preparation of an insoluble biomass gel involving: (a) mixing ground agricultural materials and hexane to produce de-oiled agricultural materials, (b) treating the de-oiled agricultural materials with thermostable ?-amylase to produce de-oiled and de-starched agricultural materials, (c) mixing alkali with the de-oiled and de-starched agricultural materials to produce a first residue, (d) mixing hydrogen peroxide with the first residue to form a second residue, and (e) mixing the second residue in water and collecting an insoluble material which is an insoluble biomass gel.