Coagulation using organic carbonates opens up a sustainable route towards regenerated cellulose films

Mai N Nguyen; Udo Kragl; Ingo Barke; Regina Lange; Henrik Lund; Marcus Frank; Armin Springer; Victoria Aladin; Björn Corzilius; Dirk Hollmann

doi:10.1038/s42004-020-00360-7

Coagulation using organic carbonates opens up a sustainable route towards regenerated cellulose films

Commun Chem. 2020 Aug 13;3(1):116. doi: 10.1038/s42004-020-00360-7.

Authors

Mai N Nguyen^{1

2

3}, Udo Kragl^{1

3

4}, Ingo Barke⁵, Regina Lange⁵, Henrik Lund⁴, Marcus Frank^{1

6}, Armin Springer⁶, Victoria Aladin^{1

3}, Björn Corzilius^{1

3}, Dirk Hollmann^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department Life, Light & Matter, Faculty for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 25, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
² School of Chemical Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, No. 1 Dai Co Viet street, 10000, Hanoi, Vietnam.
³ Department of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3A, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
⁴ Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Albert-Einstein-Straße 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
⁵ Institute of Physics, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 23-24, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
⁶ Medical Biology and Electron Microscopy Centre, University Medicine Rostock, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
⁷ Department Life, Light & Matter, Faculty for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 25, 18059, Rostock, Germany. dirk.hollmann@uni-rostock.de.
⁸ Department of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3A, 18059, Rostock, Germany. dirk.hollmann@uni-rostock.de.

Abstract

Due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility and sustainable nature, regenerated cellulose (RC) films are of enormous relevance for green applications including medicinal, environmental and separation technologies. However, the processes used so far are very hazardous to the environment and health. Here, we disclose a simple, fast, environmentally friendly, nontoxic and cost-effective processing method for preparing RC films. High quality non-transparent and transparent RC films and powders can be produced by dissolution with tetrabutylphosphonium hydroxide [TBPH]/[TBP]⁺[OH]^- followed by coagulation with organic carbonates. Investigations on the coagulation mechanism revealed an extremely fast reaction between the carbonates and the hydroxide ions. The high-quality powders and films were fully characterized with respect to structure, surface morphology, permeation and selectivity. This method represents a future-oriented green alternative to known industrial processes.