Predicting the Solubility of Cellulose in Organic Electrolyte Solutions

Marcus Johns

Research output: Contribution to conferencePoster

169 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The material properties and abundance of cellulose mean that it has the potential for use as a biomaterial in tissue engineering. However, the current commercial processes for its dissolution are not ideal for in vivo applications given the use of heavy metals and oxidising agents. A ’greener’, more efficient process compared to these has been reported using ionic liquids. Rinaldi reported that the addition of a polar aprotic co-solvent to create an organic electrolyte solution, OES, reduced viscosity of the solution and enabled the instantaneous dissolution of cellulose. In order to optimise this process it would be ideal to be able to predict the solubility of cellulose under different conditions and choices of ionic liquid/co-solvent that minimise potential toxic effects. This model is an initial attempt to achieve this by being able to predict the solubility of microcrystalline cellulose in solutions of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, EMIm[AcO], and various co-solvents at 70 °C.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jul 2014
EventDTC Summer Showcase 2014 - University of Bath, Bath, UK United Kingdom
Duration: 7 Jul 20149 Jul 2014

Conference

ConferenceDTC Summer Showcase 2014
Country/TerritoryUK United Kingdom
CityBath
Period7/07/149/07/14

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Predicting the Solubility of Cellulose in Organic Electrolyte Solutions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this