Premium
Application of optical microscopy as a screening technique for cellulose and lignin solvent systems
Author(s) -
FitzPatrick Michael,
Champagne Pascale,
Cunningham Michael F.,
Falkenburger Charlene
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.20628
Subject(s) - cellulose , lignin , ionic liquid , dissolution , lithium chloride , phosphonium , dimethylacetamide , chemistry , solvent , biomass (ecology) , organic chemistry , fractionation , chloride , materials science , chemical engineering , catalysis , oceanography , engineering , geology
Rapid and facile screening techniques to determine the effectiveness of solvents for cellulose or biomass dissolution can advance biomass processing research. Here, we report the use of a simple optical microscopy method to screen potential cellulose and lignin solvents. The described methodology was used to screen the dissolution of cellulose and lignin in two imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (ILs), two phosphonium‐based ILs, as well as a N , N ‐dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride (DMAc/LiCl) solution in less time than other techniques. The imidazolium‐based ILs and the DMAc/LiCl were found to dissolve both cellulose and lignin. Also, it was observed that one of the phosphonium‐based ILs dissolved lignin and not cellulose, demonstrating a potential for biomass fractionation applications. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering