Composite fibers spun directly from solutions of raw lignocellulosic biomass dissolved in ionic liquids

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass composite fibers (southern yellow pine and bagasse) were successfully prepared directly from the ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C₂mim]OAc) with a dry-jet wet spinning process using short dissolution times (10–30 min) and temperatures above the glass transition temperature of lignin. Fibers could not be spun at all from solutions of pine dissolved using previously reported dissolution methods (110 °C, 16 h), while bagasse fibers spun using the higher temperature/shorter time method were stronger than those obtained using the lower temperature/longer time method.