Propylene Carbonate Based‐Organic Electrolytes for Cellulose Dissolution Processing and Derivatization

Abstract The design of green and facile dissolution technologies to allow homogeneous processing and derivatization of cellulose towards a controllable facile preparation of cellulosic materials is prime important. Herein, in combination with [Emim]OAc ionic liquids, propylene carbonate (PC) is reported to dissolve up to 10wt% of cellulose at 80 o C in 20 mins when X ILs in the designed “organic electrolyte solutions (OESs)” is larger than 0.3. Rheological study of the obtained cellulose solution was performed and then the polarity of the PC, [Emim]OAc and the OESs was assessed from the solvatochromic behaviour of Reichardt's dye. The results show that the addition of [Emim]OAc ionic liquids into PC can considerably increase the polarity of PC, as evidenced by the fact that ET (30) values increases from 47.501 to 50.132 when X ILs is 0.4. Finally, the potential of the obtained cellulose solution in OESs for cellulose homogeneous processing into films and derivatization was primary demonstrated by the successful preparation of transparent cellulosic films and effective transesterification of cellulose with vinyl pivalate and benzoate. In a word, the study provides a new green solvent system and insights the future design of new solvents for cellulose homogeneous processing and derivatization.