Tuesday, April 20, 2010
8-73

The effect of the ionic liquid anion in pretreatment of pine wood chips

Agnieszka Brandt1, Jason P. Hallett2, David J. Leak3, Richard J. Murphy3, and Tom Welton1. (1) Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW11 2AZ, United Kingdom, (2) Chemistry Department, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW11 2AZ, United Kingdom, (3) Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW11 2AZ, United Kingdom

We have investigated the effect of the ionic liquid anion on the dissolution of pine wood (Pinus radiata) in ionic liquids. Using a protocol for assessing the size change of wood blocks (10 x 10 x 5 mm) it was shown that the anion has a profound impact on the ability to promote both swelling and dissolution of wood chips. Time course studies showed that viscosity, temperature and water content are important parameters influencing the dissolution process. Measurement of the Kamlet-Taft solvent polarity of the ionic liquids revealed that the anion basicity, described by the ß parameter, correlates with the ability to expand and dissolve pine wood.

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