Process for making a precursor of a solution of cellulose

摘要

A process is provided for making a solid precursor of a solution of cellulose in a tertiary amine oxide by suspending cellulose in a mixture containing a tertiary amine oxide and water under conditions where the amine oxide will dissolve the cellulose and cooling the resulting product to ambient temperature to provide a solid solution of cellulose in amine oxide. The product may be comminuted to form chips which are adapted to be fed to an extruder or other apparatus for shaping it into a cellulosic article. An organic liquid which is miscible with the tertiary amine oxide and is a non-solvent for the cellulose may be included with the amine oxide-water mixture to improve the up-take of the tertiary amine oxide by the cellulose.