ALTERNATIVE POST TREATMENT FOR STABILIZING HIGHLY DISORDERED CELLULOSES

摘要

A method is provided for the post-treatment of nanoporous celluloses with an eye to scale up to plant operation wherein recycling and recovery of reagents is crucial in the efficient and cost effective operation of a full-scale plant. The instant method includes diminishing the alkali (e.g., sodium hydroxide) concentration of the treatment solution by converting it to a salt (e.g., a sodium salt).

主权项

1. A method of treating and stabilizing a cellulosic material, comprising
a) contacting a cellulosic material with a treatment solution of an alkali in an alcohol/water co-solvent to yield a treated cellulosic material and dissolved phytochemicals in a post-treatment solution, b) treating the post-treatment solution with an acid to neutralize the alkali and precipitate the alkali as an alkali salt to yield a neutralized post-treatment solution, thereby reducing the pH of the post-treatment solution to a level such that the treated cellulosic material is not mercerized upon exposure to water, the neutralized post-treatment solution having the treated cellulosic material, the precipitated salt and dissolved phytochemicals.