Lignocellulosic biomass is one the most abundant materials in world; however there is a relatively small number of solvents that can be used to dissolve and fibre spin the lingocellulosic biomass. Ionic liquids are new generation of solvents which can effectively dissolve cellulosic biomass as well other types of natural polymers. In this study we used pure cellulose (derived from wood pulp), lignin (derived from willow) and lignocellulosic biomass (derived from agricultural waste product) as a feedstock to manufacture regenerated cellulose and lignocellulosic fibres. Imidazolium based ionic liquids were found to be effective solvents to dissolve the biomass. The biomass could be dissolved in sufficient quantity in the ionic liquid to prepare a high viscosity spinning dope. The wet spinning method was used to produce regenerated cellulosic and lignocellulosic fibres. The physical properties of the regenerated fibres were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, TGA and single fibre tensile testing. The regenerated fibres show very good molecular alignment of cellulose chains and good tensile strength and stiffness. The regenerated lignin-cellulose fibres could be used as renewable fibre reinforcements for manufacturing green composites for the engineering applications .

Fibre spinning of lingo-cellulose biomass using ionic liquids

251st National Meeting (2016)

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