Switchable carbamate coagulants to improve recycling ionic liquid from biomass solutions

A reversible amine-carbamate approach has been developed to reduce the use of antisolvents such as water in coagulation biopolymers from ionic liquid (IL) solution and thus improve economy IL recycle. Cellulose chitin were recovered 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C 2 mim][OAc]) by introducing miscible amines triethanolamine (TEA), ethylenediamine (EDA), or butylamine (BA) bubbling CO at 40 °C atmospheric pressure through solutions form carbamate salts situ which resulted biopolymer coagulation. BA gave best results because its low boiling point viscosity, benefited both recovery films fibers could be formed extrusion an MCC/[C mim]‐[OAc] into a coagulating bath comprised 1:1 M mixture [C mim][OAc] butylammonium butylcarbamate (BA-carbamate). The cellulose, IL, amine, easily separated, although cellulose required some washings remove traces IL. Up 96.4% recovered, 76.2% 20.2% washings. recycled was suitable for another cycle dissolution 84.6% used second recovered. Although further work is needed, not least will reducing amount needed washing steps, promising features this process way new directions more economically viable recycling processes biomass treatment with ILs. • methodology recover changing solubility salts. can lower energy usage ILs lowering antisolvent removed. coagulated using triethanolamine, ethylenediamine, carbamates. extruded carbamate. This provides search treatment.