Green Solvent Systems for Cellulose Dissolution and Regeneration: Hydrogen-Bond Engineering Toward Sustainable...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer, is a sustainable alternative to petroleum products.
• Its extensive hydrogen-bonding network hinders thermal processing and practical application.
• Developing effective dissolution methods is crucial for unlocking cellulose's potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review cellulose dissolution mechanisms and green solvent systems.
• To analyze the influence of solvation chemistry on regeneration strategies.
• To elucidate design principles for high-performance cellulosic materials.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of cellulose's hierarchical supramolecular structure and swelling.
• Review of recent advancements in green solvents like ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents.
• Examination of solvent-induced phase transitions and thermally driven assembly for regeneration.

Main Results:

• Green solvents effectively disrupt cellulose's hydrogen-bonding network under mild conditions.
• Solvation chemistry precisely controls hydrogen-bond reconstruction and molecular chain orientation during regeneration.
• Established principles for designing high-performance cellulosic materials through controlled dissolution and regeneration.

Conclusions:

• Green solvent systems are transformative for cellulose processing.
• Bridging dissolution mechanisms with advanced manufacturing enables precise material design.
• Future directions include AI for solvent screening and scaling up sustainable cellulose-based smart materials.