Green Chemistry Approaches to Cellulose Dissolution and Regeneration

The dissolution of cellulose is a critical step for the efficient conversion of the cellulose into a high added value product. Yet, so far, attention had been paid mostly to the conventional solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride (DMAc/LiCl). Therefore, initiatives to develop highly efficient and green cellulose solvents can broaden the cellulose regeneration for various applications. Dissolution of cellulose in green solvents allows the comprehensive utilization of cellulose by combining the green chemistry principles involving the usage of environmentally preferable solvents. Green solvents including ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have played unique roles in the cellulose dissolution. ILs are novel green and attractive solvents due to their favorable properties. ILs with high thermal stability, nearly non-volatility, and structural diversity consequently show an outstanding capability for dissolving cellulose. In addition, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) with unique physicochemical properties, has emerged as green alternative to ILs, have shown considerable potential as versatile solvents for cellulose dissolution. Herein, this chapter underlines a more appropriate dissolution mechanism and provides an insight into the effectiveness of cellulose dissolution in the ILs and DESs.