Characterization of cellulose regenerated from solutions of pine and eucalyptus woods in 1-allyl-3-methilimidazolium chloride

Cellulose is currently separated from lignocellulosic materials using non-environmentally friendly processes. The development of new methods for treating biomass and separating cellulose remains a challenge and would be very useful in the context of the biorefinery philosophy. In this work, cellulose has been regenerated from solutions of Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus woods in 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Wood dissolution was performed in a microwave oven at 120 °C for 20 min. Cellulose was characterized and compared to the reference material, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Regenerated celluloses showed lower crystallinity and thermal stability than MCC, although the ash contents at 400 °C were higher than in MCC. The regenerated celluloses were obtained without lignin and almost free from hemicellulose. Furthermore, cellulose was not significantly degraded in the dissolution process of both woods. The insoluble solids showed higher content of lignin and hemicellulose than the raw materials.