Production and characteristics of nanocellulose obtained with using of ionic liquid and ultrasonication.

The dissolving of cellulose under harsh and environmentally unfavorable circumstances is the basis of traditional chemical methods for nanocellulose (NC) or derivatization. Due to the limitations of present methods for dissolving and processing NC, more efficient and ecologically acceptable solvents are required. Because of their excellent thermal and chemical stability, non-flammability, and miscibility with many other solvent systems, ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as useful and environmentally friendly solvents. Meanwhile, another procedure for producing NC with homogeneous and extremely crystalline characteristics is ultra-sonification. Ultrasound energy is delivered to cellulose chains during ultrasonication by a process known as cavitation, which refers to the development, growth, and collapse of cavities in a liquid medium. Cavitation provides 10–100 kJ/mol of energy in this so-called sonochemistry, which is within the hydrogen bond energy scale. As a result, both catalytic IL treatments and ultrasonication influence the progressive disintegration of NC synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]