Amino Acid Ionic Liquid as an Efficient Cosolvent of Dimethyl Sulfoxide to Realize Cellulose Dissolution at Room Temperature

Abstract A mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N,N-diethyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-N-methylammonium alanine ([N221ME][Ala]) dissolved cellulose at rt; the solubility of cellulose depended on the content of the ionic liquid in DMSO and reached 23 wt % (vs. solvent) in a 1:1 mixture. The solution coagulated in water or ethanol to obtain a transparent regenerated cellulose in quantitative yield.