Studies on Modification of Cellulose via Dissolution into N-ethylpyridinium Chloride

摘要

There is a demand in the textile industry to replace the viscose process for producing rayon fibers by a more environmentally favorable process. Recently there has been an increasing interest in nonaqueous solvents for cellulose by investigators concerned with either the polymer properties or possible routes of modification of cellulose. N-ethylpyridinium chloride (NEPC) is one of the few single-component, nonaqueous solvents for cellulose. This quarternary ammonium salt melts at 393 K, but suitable organic solvents can be used to lower the melting point to about 350 K. The melt of NEPC dissolves cellulose even at the highest degree of polymerization. The purpose of this study was to examine the applicability of NEPC on various routes of modification and use of cellulose.