Dissolution and recovery of cellulose from 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride in presence of water

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 92; no. 1; pp. 651 - 658
• Main Authors: Iguchi, Masayuki, Aida, Taku Michael, Watanabe, Masaru, Smith, Richard L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 30.01.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cellulose; Cellulose - chemistry; Cellulose and derivatives; Cellulose II; Degree of polymerization; Exact sciences and technology; Imidazoles - chemistry; Ionic liquid; Ionic Liquids - chemistry; Natural polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; solvents; Solvents - chemistry; Temperature; Viscosity; Water; Water - chemistry; water content; Water; Cellulose II; Degree of polymerization; Cellulose; Ionic liquid; Solvent effect; Imidazole derivatives; Iminium compounds; Cellulose hydrate; Crystallinity; Experimental study; Dissolution; Optimization; Solvent resistance; Operating conditions; Depolymerization; Structure processing relationship; Methyl sulfoxide; Mixed solvent
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.09.021

► Temperature affects cellulose structure after dissolution in [bmIm][Cl]. ► At 90°C, [bmIm][Cl] and its mixtures with water are non-derivatizing solvents. ► At 120°C, [bmIm][Cl] and its mixtures with water are derivatizing solvents. ► Regenerated cellulose has cellulose II structure at T=120°C and t=10h. ► Regenerated cellulose has high amorphous content at T<120°C or t<10h. The dissolution and recovery of microcrystalline cellulose from 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [bmIm][Cl], were studied. At 90°C and 5h dissolution time, the regenerated cellulose could be recovered above 80wt% with a less than 10% decrease in the value of the viscosity-average degree of polymerization, DPv, regardless of water content. Recovery ratio and DPv of regenerated cellulose at 120°C decreased with time regardless of water content. The regenerated cellulose after dissolution at 120°C for 10h regardless of water content had cellulose II structure. Regenerated cellulose at short dissolution times or low temperature had high amorphous content. Both [bmIm][Cl] and [bmIm][Cl] with water act as a non-derivatizing solvent for microcrystalline cellulose at 90°C, and as a derivatizing solvent at 120°C. The main effect of added water on the dissolution of cellulose at high temperature was the promotion of cello-oligosaccharide and levoglucosan formation.