Title
Dissolution of cellulose with pyridinium-based ionic liquids: Effect of chemical structure and interaction mechanism
Authors
ELENA S. SASHINA DMITRII A. KASHIRSKII and KONSTANTIN N. BUSYGIN

Received October 10, 2014
Published Volume 50 Issue 2 February
Keywords solvents, pyridinium salts, cellulose, ionic liquid

Abstract
The results of theoretical and experimental studies of 1-alkyl-3-methylpyridinium cation-based ionic liquids (ILs) and their solutions with cellulose are presented. The obtained results show a correlation between the chemical structure of the ILs and their ability to dissolve cellulose. The mechanism of natural polymer solvation in these solvents is discussed. Our results allow us to conclude that pyridinium-based ILs are extremely promising for biomass processing. These results can help design solvents with required physical and chemical properties.