Production of cellulose esters in ionic liquid

Cellulose is the most common natural polymer available. The project aims to produce esters from cellulose fibers employing green solvents, such as ionic liquids. Ionic liquids’ properties are tunable by changing the anion and the cation to dissolve simultaneously the cellulose and the esterification agent. The esterification agent is a free fatty acid which can be bio-derived. We will vary: the source of cellulose (microcrystalline and nanocellulose), the free fatty acid (fatty chain length from 12 to 18), the ionic liquid (methyl and ethyl-imidazolium acetate salts), the ratio of free fatty acid/cellulose.

We will analyze the samples collected during the reaction by chemical structure (chromatography and NMR), rheological and mechanical properties. We anticipate being able to produce cellulose esters with applications as thermoplastics, which carry hydrophobic properties and can be shaped in films.

Faculty Supervisor:

Daria Camilla Boffito

Student:

Partner:

University of Canterbury

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Biotechnology; Green/Alternative Energy; Forestry

University:

Polytechnique Montréal

Program: