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The undesirable acetylation of cellulose by the acetate ion of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate

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Abstract

The ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C2mim]OAc) is considered to be an inert solvent of cellulose and lignocellulosic biomass. Acetylation (1.7% mol, or DS 0.017) of cellulose after dissolution in technical grade [C2mim]OAc (150 °C for 20 min), is demonstrated by compositional analysis, FTIR analysis and 13C NMR spectroscopy (in [C2mim]OAc with 13C enriched acetate). This acetylation, in the absence of added acylating agents, has not been reported before and may limit [C2mim]OAc utility in industrial scale biomass processing, even at this low extent. For example, cellulose acetylation may contribute to IL loss in processes where the IL is recovered and reused and inhibit enzyme saccharification of cellulose in lignocellulosic biofuel production processes based on saccharification and fermentation.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was generously provided by the Greek State Scholarship Foundation (IKY), the Queensland Government, and Queensland University of Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia

    Sergios Kimon Karatzos, Leslie Alan Edye & Robert Mark Wellard

  2. Faculty of Forestry, Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 4037-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada

    Sergios Kimon Karatzos

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  1. Sergios Kimon Karatzos
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  2. Leslie Alan Edye
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Correspondence to Sergios Kimon Karatzos.

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Karatzos, S.K., Edye, L.A. & Wellard, R.M. The undesirable acetylation of cellulose by the acetate ion of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate. Cellulose 19, 307–312 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-011-9621-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-011-9621-0

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