Ionic liquids have been proposed to be excellent, ‘green’ solvents for processing of lignocellulosic materials. They are tunable and, depending on their structure, can, for instance, have the ability to dissolve all lignocellulose components, including even cellulose in relatively low temperatures. Pre-treatment methods based on ionic liquids have shown to enhance the subsequent total hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. Textile fibers have also been successfully spun from ionic liquid-based cellulose dopes. Moreover, chemical modification of polysaccharides using ionic liquid as a solvent or reactant has also been reported. Despite these potential findings, we are still waiting for the ionic liquid-based technologies for processing lignocellulosic materials to break through on an industrial scale. Hence, in this presentation some aspects that are relevant for scale-up of ionic liquid-based technologies for cellulose processing are discussed from the standpoint of a large industrial company.

Use of ionic liquids in industrial processes

2019 Spring National Meeting

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