
55Processing Cellulose for Cellulose Fiber and Matrix Composites
Ionic solvents are currently being used to form cellulose solutions from which
the cellulose can be regenerated by dilution and then washing with water. The ionic
solvents are similar to NMMO except they have a separate cation and anion. There
are many ionic solvents available; however, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate
(BMIMAc) has been found to be most suitable to dissolving cellulose, the acetate
being more effective than the corresponding chloride.
The process of dissolving cellulose in ionic liquids can be indirect such as rst
swelling the cellulose in a water (2%–5%)–ionic ...