Facile cellulose dissolution without heating in [C₄mim][CH ₃COO]/DMF solvent

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Cellulose, a abundant biopolymer, presents dissolution challenges.
• Developing efficient and environmentally friendly cellulose solvents is crucial for its applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and investigate novel cellulose solvents based on [C4mim][CH3COO]/DMF.
• To understand the effect of DMF on cellulose solubility and dissolution mechanism.
• To characterize regenerated cellulose properties.

Main Methods:

• Solubility determination of cellulose in [C4mim][CH3COO]/DMF at 25°C.
• Analysis of molar ratio effects on solubility.
• Characterization using SEM, FTIR, and XRD.
• Determination of the degree of polymerization (DP).

Main Results:

• Cellulose solubility in [C4mim][CH3COO]/DMF was successfully determined.
• Increased DMF content enhanced cellulose solubility.
• Dissolution is attributed to increased free [CH3COO](-) anions and [C4mim](+) cations.
• Regenerated cellulose showed minimal degradation (DP maintained).

Conclusions:

• [C4mim][CH3COO]/DMF is an effective solvent system for cellulose.
• DMF plays a key role in enhancing cellulose dissolution by promoting ion dissociation.
• The process preserves cellulose molecular integrity, enabling potential for sustainable material applications.