Implementing ionics

has set up a research partnership with the

(UoA), to study the dissolution and processing of cellulose by means of ionic liquids.

Occurring at a volume of some 700 billion tons, cellulose is the earth’s most widespread natural organic chemical and is highly important as a biorenewable resource. Out of the 40 billion tons nature renews every year, only 0.1 billion tons are used as feedstock for further processing.

A more intensive exploitation of cellulose as a biorenewable feedstock has to date been prevented by the lack of a suitable solvent that can be used in chemical processes. By means of ionic liquids, however, real solutions of cellulose can now be produced for the first time at technically useful concentrations, opening up great potential for cellulose processing.

BASF is in the process of evaluating a variety of ideas that might improve the use of cellulose. For example, making cellulose fibre from so-called dissolving pulp currently involves the use, and subsequent disposal, of great volumes of various chemical additives. A total of some 600,000 metric tons of carbon disulphide (CS2) is consumed each year for this application. For each ton of cellulose fibre, there are more than two tons of waste substances. Major volumes of wastewater are also produced for process reasons and need to be disposed of. These processes can be greatly simplified by the use of ionic liquids, which serve as solvents and are nearly entirely recycled. This can clearly reduce the amount of additives needed.