Process for making cellulose fibre or film

Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided A process for making a cellulose fibre or film comprising the steps of dissolving pulp in an ionic liquid containing a cationic 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-enium [TBDH]+ moiety and an anion selected from the group according to Formula a), Formula b) and Formula c), wherein each of R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 is H or an organyl radical and X.sup.− is selected from the group consisting of halides, pseudohalides, carboxylates, alkyl sulphite, alkyl sulphate, dialkylphosphite, dialkyl phosphate, dialkyl phosphonites and dialkyl phosphonates, to provide a spinning dope, extruding the spinning dope through a spinneret to form one or more filaments, and a step selected from the group consisting of spinning cellulose fibres from the solution, and extruding a cellulose film from the solution.

Claims

1. A process for making cellulose filaments, fibres, and/or a film comprising the steps of: dissolving pulp in an ionic liquid containing a cationic 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-enium [TBDH]+ moiety and an anion selected from the group consisting of Formula a), Formula b), and Formula c), ##STR00007## wherein each of R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 is H or an organyl radical and X.sup.− is selected from the group consisting of halides, pseudohalides, carboxylates, alkyl sulphite, alkyl sulphate, dialkylphosphite, dialkyl phosphate, dialkyl phosphonites and dialkyl phosphonates, to provide a spinning dope, extruding the spinning dope through a spinneret to form the cellulose filaments, fibres, and/or film.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein at least one of R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 comprises an organyl radical, and wherein the organyl radical comprises an alkyl group.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein at least one of R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 comprises an organyl radical, and wherein the organyl radical comprises a polyether chain.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein at least one of R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 comprises an organyl radical, and wherein the organyl radical comprises a methyl group.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the anion comprises a halide selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide, and iodide.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the anion comprises a carboxylate selected from the group consisting of formate, acetate, propionate, and butyrate.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the anion comprises a pseudohalide selected from the group consisting of cyanide, thiocyanide, and cyanate.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the pulp comprises paper or dissolving pulp.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dissolving is done at a temperature in the range of 30° C. to 150° C.

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dissolving provides a spinning dope having a zero shear viscosity in a range of 20000 to 60000 Pas.

11. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dissolving provides a spinning dope having a cross over point of dynamic moduli being located between 0.2-2 sec.sup.−1 and 1500-7000 Pa.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the spinning dope is extruded into an air gap during the extruding.

13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the extruding is done at a temperature in a range of 60° C. to 100° C.

14. The process according to claim 1, further comprising drawing the filament through a spin bath for regenerating cellulose, said spin bath containing an antisolvent or a mixture of the antisolvent and the ionic liquid.

15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the antisolvent is water.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein the extruding forms a cellulose fibre having a dry tenacity of >35 cN/tex and a wet-to-dry tenacity of >0.70.

17. The process according to claim 1, further comprising recycling the ionic liquid after the extruding.

18. The process of claim 1, wherein the forming comprises a step selected from the group consisting of: spinning cellulose fibres from the one or more filaments, and extruding a cellulose film from the one or more filaments.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Next preferred embodiments will be examined more closely with the aid of a detailed description and with reference to the attached drawings.

(2) FIGS. 1A-1B show a comparison of complex viscosity (left) and dynamic moduli (right) of NMMO, [DBNH]OAc and [mTBDH]OAc—cellulose solutions.

(3) FIG. 2 shows molar mass distribution of original prehydrolysis kraft birch pulp and fibres spun from various solvents.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates example structures of ionic liquids suitable for cellulose dissolution, fibre spinning and having increased hydrolytic stability: R, R.sup.5, and R.sup.7 are H or organyl radicals. In addition, positions R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 may be substituted by organyl radicals or may be simply hydrogen atoms. Organyl radicals are preferentially alkyl or polyether chains but most preferentially methyl groups. b) Carboxylates have been proven most beneficial. c) 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-enium acetate [mTBDH]OAc.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a potential reaction mechanism for the hydrolysis of [DBNH][OAc] to [APPH][OAc].

(6) FIG. 5 shows a potential reaction mechanism for the hydrolysis of [mTBDH][OAc] to [APmTH][OAc] and [mAPTH][OAc].

(7) FIG. 6 is a graph showing mechanical properties of [mTBDH]OAc spun fibres as function of draw (conditioned). Fibres spun from 13 wt % solution were measured at Aalto University; fibres spun from 14 wt % solution were measured by an external, accredited institute.

(8) FIG. 7 shows .sup.1H-NMR spectra of [mTBDH][OAc] (top) and after heating (bottom).

(9) FIGS. 8A-8H provide 8 graphs showing the relative concentrations in mol % of ionic liquids and their hydrolysis products plotted against time in days.

EMBODIMENTS

(10) As mentioned above, by means of embodiments it has surprisingly been found that in contrast to other guanidine derivatives, cellulose solutions in ionic liquids based on TBD surprisingly show visco-elastic properties that are excellent for dry jet wet spinning where the filaments have to withstand high draw ratios. The good spinnability resulted in fibres with properties surpassing currently commercially available Lyocell fibres. The particular favourable visco-elastic properties encountered for TBD-based IL-cellulose solutions allow for mild processing conditions during the unit operations of dissolution, filtration, de-aeration and spinning. This low thermal stress is reflected by an almost complete conservation of the cellulose's molar mass distribution.

(11) Compared to [DBNH][OAc] in our previous invention on the IONCELL-F process (WO 2014/162062 A1), [mTBDH][OAc] shows considerably increased hydrolytic stability (Table 1). [DBNH][OAc] has been shown to be unstable under recycling conditions. If solutions of [DBNH][OAc]:H2O (1:1 mol eq) and [mTBDH][OAc]:H.sub.2O (1:1 mol eq) are subjected to heat we find that ca. 5 mol % of [DBNH][OAc] are hydrolysed at 90° C. over 15 min, whereas [mTBDH][OAc] is only hydrolysed by <0.3% under the same conditions. 90° C. is roughly the conditions required for recycling the ionic liquid (water evaporation) and a 1:1 mol composition of ionic liquid and water are the conditions where hydrolysis becomes problematic. Even at 130° C., [mTBDH][OAc] only hydrolyses ˜3% over 15 min, hence, its hydrolytic stability is drastically increased.

(12) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Results of the preliminary hydrolysis kinetics studies. Extent of Hydrolysis at 90° C. after 15 min at 130° C. after 60 min [DBNH][OAc] 5.2% [mTBDH][OAc] <0.3% 11.4%

(13) FIGS. 1A-1B show a comparison of complex viscosity (FIG. 1A) and dynamic moduli (storage and loss moduli) (FIG. 1B) of NMMO, [DBNH]OAc and [mTBDH]OAc—cellulose solutions in which each of complex viscosity and dynamic moduli are plotted against angular frequency in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 1 B the solid symbols represent the storage moduli and the open symbols denote the loss moduli. It can be seen from the graphs that solutions of cellulose in (TBD)-ILs, in particular in 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-enium acetate showed visco-elastic properties that are similar to respective solutions in NMMO monohydrated and [DBNH] OAc, respectively (see also Table 3). This enables efficient spinning of the respective solutions in a dry-jet wet spinning process. The required spinning temperature is slightly higher than for [DBNH]OAc solutions, but lower than in the NMMO-based Lyocell process. This seems to be a particular feature of DBN- and TBD-based ionic compounds. ILs derived from the structurally analogous 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG), such as [TMGH]OAc for instance, could not be used as spinning solvent. Respective cellulose solutions depicted a strong gel-character which hampered filament extrusion and impeded their draw in the air gap.

(14) FIG. 2 is a graph showing a plot of differential mass fraction plotted against log molar mass in which the molar mass distribution of original prehydrolysis kraft birch pulp and fibres spun from various solvents. Comparing PHK birch pulp before dissolution with fibres spun from NMMO, [DBNH]OAc and [mTDBH]OAc it can be seen from the Figure that there is no statistically significant degradation. In other words, the particular favourable visco-elastic properties encountered for TBD-based IL-cellulose solutions allow for mild processing conditions during the unit operations of dissolution, filtration, de-aeration and spinning. This low thermal stress is reflected by an almost complete conservation of the cellulose's molar mass distribution.

(15) FIG. 3 illustrates example structures of ionic liquids suitable for cellulose dissolution, fibre spinning and having increased hydrolytic stability. The ionic liquids typically comprise a (preferably alkylated) cationic 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-enium [TBDH].sup.+ moiety and an anion with high basicity, in terms of proton affinity or Kamlet-Taft parameter. R, R.sup.5, and R.sup.7 are H or organyl radicals. In addition, positions R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 may be substituted by organyl radicals or may be simply hydrogen atoms. Organyl radicals are preferentially alkyl or polyether chains but most preferentially methyl groups. The preferred anions of the ionic liquids are halides (fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide), pseudohalides (cyanide, thiocyanide, cyanate), carboxylates (formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate), alkyl sulphite, alkyl sulphate, dialkyl phosphite, dialkyl phosphate, dialkyl phosphonites, dialkyl phosphonates. Carboxylates have been proven most beneficial (FIG. 3b). The optimum scope of the core TBD-based ionic liquid structure is shown in FIG. 3c.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a potential reaction mechanism for the hydrolysis of [DBNH][OAc] to [APPH][OAc]. The hydrolysis kinetics for [DBNH][OAc] were accurately determined via .sup.1H-NMR for an ionic liquid water mixture of 1:1 mol ratio. 5% hydrolysis of [DBNH][OAc] to [APPH][OAc] was found within 15 min at 90° C.

(17) FIG. 5 shows a potential reaction mechanism for the hydrolysis of [mTBDH][OAc] to [APmTH][OAc] and [mAPTH][OAc]. The hydrolysis kinetics for [mTBDH][OAc] were accurately determined via .sup.1H-NMR for an ionic liquid water mixture of 1:1 mol ratio. <0.3% hydrolysis of [mTBDH][OAc] to [APmTH][OAc] and [mAPTH][OAc] was found over 15 min at 90° C.

(18) FIG. 6 is a graph showing mechanical properties of [mTBDH]OAc spun fibres as function of draw (conditioned). The mechanical properties measured were Titer (dtex) and Tenacity (cN/tex). Fibres spun from 13 wt % solution were measured at Aalto University; fibres spun from 14 wt % solution were measured by an external, accredited institute.

(19) FIG. 7 shows .sup.1H-NMR spectra of [mTBDH][OAc] (top) and after heating (bottom), i.e. the- degree of hydrolysis of [mTBDH][OAc] was measured using .sup.1H NMR. The ionic liquid-water mixture (1:1 mole ratio) was heated at 90° C. and separately at 130° C. .sup.1H NMR analysis, integrating [mTBDH][OAc] against the two hydrolysis products [APmTH][OAc] and [mAPTH][OAc] showed <0.3% degradation over 15 min at 90° C. 11.4% hydrolysis was found to occur over 60 min at the significantly higher temperature of 130° C. (APmT: 1-(3-ammoniopropyl)tetrahydro-3-methyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinone; mAPT: 1-[3-(methylammonio)propyl]tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone acetate)

(20) FIGS. 8A-8H provide 8 graphs showing the hydrolysis kinetics of [mTBDH][OAc] (A, C, E, G) in comparison to [DBNH][OAc] (B, D, F, H) at 80° C. (A-D) and at room temperature (E-H) with 5% added water (A-B, E-F) and without added water (C-D, G-H).

(21) Embodiments described herein relate to a process for making a cellulose fibre or film comprising the steps of dissolving pulp in an ionic liquid containing a cationic 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-enium [TBDH].sup.+ moiety and an anion selected from the group according to Formula a), Formula b) and Formula c),

(22) ##STR00005##
wherein each of R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 is H or an organyl radical and X.sup.− is selected from the group consisting of halides, pseudohalides, carboxylates, alkyl sulphite, alkyl sulphate, dialkylphosphite, dialkyl phosphate, dialkyl phosphonites and dialkyl phosphonates, to provide a spinning dope, extruding the spinning dope through a spinneret to form one or more filaments, and a step selected from the group consisting of spinning cellulose fibres from the solution and extruding a cellulose film from the solution.

(23) As described above, the ionic liquids employed in present embodiments have excellent hydrolytic stability when compared to other ionic liquids, e.g. when compared to [DBNH][OAc].

(24) In one embodiment the organyl radicals of the cationic moiety are alkyl groups. In a further embodiment the organyl radicals are polyether chains. In an embodiment, the organyl radicals are linear or branched alkyl (typically C1-C6), alkoxy or alkoxyalkyl groups or residues containing aryl moieties. In a preferred embodiment the organyl radicals are methyl groups.

(25) Further embodiments describe anions of the ionic liquid. In one embodiment the anion is a halide, preferably a halide selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide. In a suitable embodiment the anion is a carboxylate, preferably a carboxylate selected from the group consisting of formate, acetate, propionate and butyrate. Carboxylates have proven to be the most beneficial anions in embodiments of the present invention. Carboxylates and in particular acetates form the best compromise with regard to the viscosity, the dissolution power in terms of the beta value (Kamlet-Taft) and the non-corrosivity. Other anions, however are extremely useful in further embodiments. In one embodiment the anion is a pseudohalide, preferably a pseudohalide selected from the group consisting of cyanide, thiocyanide and cyanate.

(26) Various pulps can be dissolved in the dissolving step. In one embodiment the pulp for dissolving is chemical pulp such as paper and dissolving pulp, preferably unbleached chemical pulp, suitably bleached chemical pulp, most suitably bleached dissolving pulp.

(27) Dissolving the pulp can be carried out in a variety of ways. In one embodiment the dissolving step comprises the steps of contacting 5-20 wt % pulp with the ionic liquid to provide a suspension and mixing the suspension in a mixer to dissolve the pulp. Any mixer suitable for the mixing of ionic liquids and pulp may be used. In an embodiment the mixing is carried out with a vertical kneader system. In one embodiment the mixing is carried out with a filmtruder. In a further embodiment, the mixing is carried out with an extruder.

(28) In embodiments using a mixture of an ionic liquid and an anti-solvent for pre-homogenization and suspension of the solute the anti-solvent is partially removed under reduced pressure during the dissolution. In a further embodiment all of the anti-solvent is removed under reduced pressure during the dissolution.

(29) To facilitate the dissolution of the pulp, the ionic liquid may be heated. In one embodiment the ionic liquid is heated to a temperature in the range of 30° C. to 150° C., preferably 50° C. to 130° C., suitably 80° C., 90° C., 100° C., 110° C. or 120° C.

(30) Embodiments provide spinning dopes for spinning cellulose filaments, fibres and or films. For the purposes of the present invention, a spinning dope is a cellulose solution which can be stretched to fibres, filaments and/or films through a spinneret, due to the specific visco-elastic properties of the cellulose solution.

(31) In one embodiment the dissolving step provides a spinning dope having a zero shear viscosity in the range of 20000 to 60000 Pas. In a further embodiment the dissolving step provides a spinning dope having a cross over point of dynamic moduli being located between 0.2-2 sec.sup.−1 and 1500-7000 Pa, in particular 2000-7000 Pa. It is clear that embodiments of the process provide solutions with visco-elastic properties that are excellent for dry-jet wet spinning where the filaments have to withstand high draw ratios. The visco-elastic properties allow for a stable spinning process which comprises extrusion through spinnerets.

(32) In a further embodiment the spinning dope is filtered with pressure filtration apparatus equipped with a metal fleece filter prior to extruding the spinning dope through the spinneret. The spinning dope is filtered to remove insoluble solid particles and gel particles. The removal of such particles facilitates spinning and ensures a long working life of the spinning equipment, e.g. the spinneret does not clog if insoluble particles have been filtered out.

(33) Similarly, degassing the spinning dope can facilitate spinning. In an embodiment the spinning dope is degassed in a heated vacuum environment.

(34) After dissolving the pulp, the filtrated and degassed spinning dope is, in an embodiment, transferred to a spinning unit. The spinning dope may be transferred in a hot, plastic state, such as at a temperature greater than room temperature, typically a temperature in the range of 30° C. to 150° C., preferably 50° C. to 130° C., suitably 80° C., 90° C., 100° C., 110° C. or 120° C., most suitably the spinning dope is transferred at a temperature equal or close to the dissolution, filtration or spinning temperature

(35) Alternatively, the spinning dope may be stored and later transferred as a solid. In an embodiment the spinning dope is transferred in one or more solid pieces at temperatures below the crystallization point. For the purposes of embodiments described herein, the storage temperature means at a temperature in the range of 17° C. to 50° C., particularly at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 30° C., suitably at a temperature of 25° C. Solidification of the spin dope at room temperature is a good indicator of suitable visco-elasticity but not a prerequisite.

(36) In a further embodiment, the spinning dope is extruded into an air gap. In an embodiment the filaments provided by extrusion are stretched in the air gap. The stretch can comprise draw ratios from 1 to 20, preferably draw ratios from 6 to 15. This allows shaping the solution as filament or film by stretching the filament or film while still in solution to orient the molecules.

(37) Extrusion takes place at an elevated temperature. In one embodiment the spinning dope is extruded at a temperature in the range of 60° C. to 100° C., preferably 75° C. to 95° C., suitably 80° C. to 90° C.

(38) Different spinnerets may be used in embodiments. In one embodiment the spinning dope is extruded through a multi-filament spinneret.

(39) In a further embodiment the filament is drawn through a spin bath for regenerating cellulose, said spin bath containing an antisolvent, or a mixture of the antisolvent and the ionic liquid used as spinning solvent. In one embodiment the antisolvent is water.

(40) Fibres spun from hydrothermally stable ionic liquids have excellent properties. From the following table it can be seen that the properties of fibres spun from a cellulose solution in [mTBDH]OAc, compare exceedingly favourably with commercial textile fibres, viscose, modal and lyocell, as well as fibres spun from NMMO and [DBNH]OAc.

(41) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Properties of commercial textile fibres and fibres spun from NMMO, [DBNH]OAc and [mTBDH]OAc solutions. laboratory commercial NMMO [DBNH]OAc [mTBDH]OAc [mTBDH]OAc Viscose Modal Lyocell 13%.sup.a) 13%.sup.a) 13% 13%.sup.c) Titre [dtex] 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.5.sup.b) 1.5.sup.b) 1.24 1.21 Tenacity cond. [cN/dtex] 23.9 33.1 40.2 54.7.sup.b) 54.9.sup.b) 49.9 52.8 Elongation cond. [%] 20.1 13.5 13.0 11.2.sup.b) 10.7.sup.b) 9.5 10.0 Tenacity wet [cN/dtex] 12.5 18.4 37.5 49.4 51 Elongation wet [%] 22.0 14.1 18.4 11.8 12.1 .sup.a)draw ratio: 14; .sup.b)measured by an external, accredited institute; .sup.c)spun using recycled [mTBDH][OAc].
Thus, embodiments relate to the production of fibres and films. In one embodiment the process produces a cellulose fibre having a dry tenacity of >35 cN/tex and a wet-to-dry tenacity of >0.70, preferably a dry tenacity of ≥40 cN/tex and a wet-to-dry tenacity of >0.80. In a further embodiment the process produces textile fibres. In a still further embodiment the process produces technical fibres. In one embodiment the process produces a film.

(42) Further embodiments relate to treatment of the ionic liquid solvent. In an embodiment the ionic liquid is recycled. In one embodiment the recycling of the ionic liquid is facilitated through the enhanced hydrothermal stability of the TBD-derived ionic liquid. In a further embodiment, the ionic liquid is purified by vacuum distillation. In an embodiment the ionic liquid is purified before use in embodiments of the process or after recycling. Typically the ionic liquid is recycled for use in embodiments of the present process, for dissolving pulp to make a cellulose fibre or film. Thus, embodiments relate to the use of a recycled ionic liquid for the preparation of a cellulose fibre or film. In an embodiment a recycled ionic liquid containing a cationic 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-enium [TBDH].sup.+ moiety and an anion selected from the group according to Formula a), Formula b) and Formula c),

(43) ##STR00006##
wherein each of R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 is H or an organyl radical and X.sup.− is selected from the group consisting of halides, pseudohalides, carboxylates, alkyl sulphite, alkyl sulphate, dialkylphosphite, dialkyl phosphate, dialkyl phosphonites and dialkyl phosphonates is contacted with a pulp to dissolve the pulp providing a spinning dope, extruding the spinning dope through a spinneret to form one or more filaments, and a step selected from the group consisting of spinning cellulose fibres from the solution, and extruding a cellulose film from the solution.

EXAMPLES

Example 1. Preparation of [mTBDH][OAc]

(44) 400 g of pre-distilled MTBD was added to 157 g of glacial acetic acid in an Erlenmeyer flask over the period of 10 min. The flask was immersed in an ice bath to avoid the temperature rising above 80° C. After the addition the mixture was shaken thoroughly to give 557 g of [mTBDH][OAc].

Example 2. [DBNH][OAc] Hydrolysis Kinetics

(45) The hydrolysis kinetics for [DBNH][OAc] have been accurately determined via .sup.1H NMR for an ionic liquid-water mixture of 1:1 mol ratio. 5% hydrolysis of [DBNH][OAc] to [APPH][OAc] was found within 15 min at 90° C.

Example 3. [mTBDH][OAc] Hydrolysis Kinetics Experimental

(46) The degree of hydrolysis of [mTBDH][OAc] was measured using .sup.1H NMR. The ionic liquid-water mixture (1:1 mole ratio) was heated at 90° C. and separately at 130° C. 1H NMR analysis, integrating [mTBDH][OAc] against the two hydrolysis products [APmTH][OAc] and [mAPTH][OAc] (FIG. 5 and FIG. 7) showed <0.3% degradation over 15 min at 90° C. 11.4% hydrolysis was found to occur over 60 min at the significantly higher temperature of 130° C.

(47) (APmT: 1-(3-ammoniopropyl)tetrahydro-3-methyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinone; mAPT: 1-[3-(methylammonio)propyl]tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone acetate)

Example 4. Preparation of Spinning Dope

(48) 5-20 wt-% pulp (preferentially 10-15 wt-%) are mixed in a mixture of a TBD based ionic liquid. The suspension is transferred to a vertical kneader system (or a stirrer at smaller scale). Dissolution proceeds fast (within time periods of 0.5-3 h) at low revolution (10 rpm) and moderate temperature (60° C.-100° C.). The resulting solution can be filtrated by means of a pressure filtration equipped with a metal fleece filter (fineness 5 μm absolute) and degassed in a heated vacuum environment. The spinning dope is then either transformed in hot, plastic state or as solid piece(s) at room temperature to the spinning unit. The spinning conditions are summarized in Examples 5 and 6.

Example 5: Spinning of TBD-Based Dopes

(49) Spinning dope (13 wt-% pre-hydrolysis birch kraft pulp in [[mTBDH]OAc) prepared as described in Example 4 is spun through a multi-filament spinneret (36 holes, 100 μm capillary diameter) at 84° C. with an extrusion velocity of 1.6 ml/min. The take-up velocity was varied systematically to set different draw-ratios. The properties of the resulting fibres are given in Table 4 and FIG. 6. The filaments depicted excellent spinning stability over the whole range investigated.

Example 6: Spinning of TBD-Based Dopes

(50) Spinning dope (14 wt-% pre-hydrolysis birch kraft pulp in [mTBDH]OAc) prepared as described in Example 4 is spun through a multi-filament spinneret (36 holes, 100 μm capillary diameter) at 93° C. with an extrusion velocity of 1.6 ml/min. The take-up velocity was varied systematically to set different draw-ratios. Further parameter and the properties of the resulting fibres are given in Table 5 and FIG. 6. The filaments depicted excellent spinning stability over the whole range investigated.

(51) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Key rheological properties of different spin dopes at the respective spinning temperature Concentration Temperature η.sub.0 G.sub.COP ω.sub.COP Solvent wt-% ° C. Pa .Math. s Pa s.sup.−1 [mTBDH]OAc 14 90 33600 4220 0.76 [mTBDH]OAc 13 85 24300 3630 0.67 [DBNH]OAc 13 80 31700 4040 0.78 NMMO•H.sub.2O 13 95 276500 5620 0.56

(52) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Mechanical properties (conditioned with exception of last line) of fibres from 13 wt % [mTBD]OAc solution. Titer Elongation Tenacity Draw dtex ± % ± cN/tex ± 1 12.5 1.6 15.7 1.9 29.4 1.0 1.5 8.0 1.0 14.8 2.1 35.9 2.3 2 6.4 0.7 11.3 1.7 35.5 3.0 4 3.3 0.3 9.9 0.7 45.4 2.9 6 2.2 0.4 8.9 0.6 47.0 3.2 6 wet 2.1 0.5 10.5 1.1 44.8 3.4

(53) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Mechanical properties of fibres from 14 wt % [mTBD]OAc solution (measured by an external, accredited institute). Titer Elongation Tenacity Draw dtex ± % ± cN/tex ± 1 7.6 0.9 14.3 2.3 35.4 2.7 2 9.0 1.2 14.2 2.4 38.8 4.5 4 4.3 0.9 11.0 1.7 48.9 5.3 6 3.8 0.8 9.5 1.5 48.6 7.0 8 2.6 0.7 9.2 1.0 54.3 7.2 9 3.4 1.1 9.2 1.2 45.6 6.0

Example 7: Hydrolytic Stability of [mTBDH][OAc] in Comparison to [DBNH][OAc]

(54) Hydrolysis kinetics for [mTBDH][OAc] and [DBNH][OAc] were measured using moisture contents ranging form 0 to 5 wt-%, representing a relevant range for the process of dissolution and spinning. Room temperature is relevant for the transportation and long-term storage of the ionic liquid, whereas 80° C. represents the operation temperature in the dissolution and spinning process. The concentrations of ionic liquids and their hydrolysis products were determined by means of capillary electrophoresis (CE). The results are shown in FIG. 8.

(55) For neat [mTBDH][OAc], no hydrolysis was observed at room temperature during the period of 38 days. The same applies for neat [DBNH][OAc] for the same storage time; however, after 80 days the formation of 5 mol-% of APPAc was observed.

(56) At 80° C., the [mTBDH][OAc] sample without added moisture showed hydrolysis of 6 mol-% during 16 days and 20 mol-% during 39 days. For the first 16 days, the hydrolysis was due to the formation of [H-mTBDH][OAc], whereas also [A-mTBDH][OAc] was observed after 39 days. For neat [DBNH][OAc], more than 20 mol-% was converted to APPAc in 16 days, and approximately 80 mol-% in 39 days. After 80 days, only 8 mol-% of the original [DBNH][OAc] was remaining in the sample, the rest being hydrolyzed to APPAc.

(57) The [mTBDH][OAc] sample with 5 wt-% added water was also completely stable towards hydrolysis at room temperature during the studied period of 39 days. In comparison, 8 mol-% of [DBNH][OAc] with 5% moisture was hydrolysed towards [APPH][OAc] in 35 days and 10 mol-% in 80 days.

(58) At 80° C., 38 mol-% of the [mTBDH][OAc] with 5 wt % added water was hydrolyzed after 16 days, and 49 mol-% after 39 days. In the end of the period of 39 days, 22 mol-% of [H-mTBDH][OAc] was observed, whereas the share of the acetylated form was 27 mol-%. For comparison, more than 90% of [DBNH][OAc] was hydrolysed in the same time, converting completely to its amide form. After 80 days, only 5 mol-% of the original [DBNH][OAc] remained.

(59) [mTDBH][OAc] outperformed [DBNH][OAc] based on the following findings: [mTBDH][OAc] showed complete hydrolytic stability at room temperature for a period of 39 days, even in the presence of 5 wt % added moisture. Neat [mTBDH][OAc] was found 4 times more stable towards hydrolysis at 80° C. than neat [DBNH][OAc] (20 mol-% vs. 80 mol-% hydrolyzed in 39 days) and the hydrolysis was 64% slower (hydrolysis of 20 mol-% in 39 days vs. in 14 days) In the presence of 5 wt-% added moisture, [mTBDH][OAc] was 5 times more stable towards hydrolysis than [DBNH][OAc] (51 mol-% of IL remaining intact after 39 days for [mTBDH][OAc] vs. 10 mol-% for [DBNH][OAc]). The hydrolysis was 19 times slower (50 mol-% hydrolyzed in >39 days for [mTBDH][OAc] vs. <2 days for [DBNH][OAc]).

Example 8: Recyclability of [mTBDH][OAc]

(60) Spinning dope (13 wt-% pre-hydrolysis birch kraft pulp in [mTBDH][OAc]) prepared as described in Example 4 is spun through a multi-filament spinneret (200 holes, 100 μm capillary diameter) at 85° C. with an extrusion velocity of 5.5 ml/min. The [mTBDH][OAc] solvent was recovered from the coagulation bath using a multi-step evaporation to remove the water, reaching a residue water content of 2 to 3.5 wt-%. The recovered solvent was characterized based on capillary electrophoresis (CE), Karl-Fischer titration and .sup.1H NMR, and used for preparing a spinning dope of the next cycle without further purification.

(61) In total, five consecutive spinning cycles were run. No hydrolysis products were detected in the recovered solvent in any of the five runs. The spinning performance of the dopes prepared with the recovered solvent were comparable with those made using the fresh solvent. The key rheological properties of the spinning dopes are listed in Table 6.

(62) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 The key rheological properties of the spinning dopes prepared using recovered [mTBDH][OAc]. Moisture content in the solvent Concentration Temperature η.sub.0 G.sub.COP ω.sub.COP Cycle Solvent wt-% wt-% ° C. Pa .Math. s Pa s.sup.−1 1 Fresh 0.24 13 85 32700 2337 0.29 [mTBDH]OAc 2 [mTBDH]OAc 3.10 13 85 28500 3996 0.84 recovered from cycle 1 3 [mTBDH]OAc 2.17 13 85 31200 3918 0.74 recovered from cycle 2 4 [mTBDH]OAc 2.65 13 85 26835 3630 0.81 recovered from cycle 3 5 [mTBDH]OAc 2.84 13 85 32890 4203 0.76 recovered from cycle 4
In comparison, when [DBNH][OAc] used for fiber spinning was recovered, the recovered solvent contained 10.3 to 11.9 mol-% of [APPH][OAc]. The recovered solvent (with residual water content of 2.9 to 3.5 wt-%) was not capable of dissolving cellulose to prepare a spinning dope and thus could not be recycled even once.

(63) It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

(64) Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Where reference is made to a numerical value using a term such as, for example, about or substantially, the exact numerical value is also disclosed.

(65) As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.

(66) Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

(67) While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.

(68) The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, that is, a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(69) At least some embodiments of the present invention find industrial application in the preparation of shaped cellulose articles formed from cellulose films, fibres and filaments. The articles may be woven or non-woven, melted, vacuum-formed or moulded in any other way suitable for forming articles from spun cellulose.

CITATION LIST

(70) 1. CAC, CIRFS, Fibre Economic Bureau, National Statistics, The Fibre Year 2015 2. Bywater, N. (2011) The global viscose fibre industry in the 21st century—the first 10 years. Lenzinger Ber. 89:22-29. 3. Röder, T., Moosbauer, J., Kliba, G., Schlader, S., Zuckerstätter, G., Sixta, H. (2009) Comparative cha-racterisation of man-made regenerated cellulose fibres. Lenzinger Ber.

(71) 87:98-105. 4. a) Buijtenhuijs, F. A., Abbas, M., Witteveen, A. J. (1986) The degradation and stabilization of cellulose dissolved in N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO). Papier (Darmstadt) 40:615-619. b) Rosenau, Thom-as; Potthast, Antje; Sixta, Herbert; Kosma, Paul (2001) The chemistry of side reactions and byproduct formation in the system NMMO/cellulose (Lyocell process). Progress in Polymer Science 26(9): 1763-1837. 5. Swatloski, R. P., Spear, S. K., Holbrey, J. D., Rogers, R. D. (2002) Dissolution of Cellose with Ionic Liquids. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124:4974-4975. 6. Hummel, M.; Michud, A.; Tanttu, M.; Asaadi, S.; Ma, Y.; Hauru, L. J.; Parviainen, A.; King, A. T.; Kipelainen, I.; Sixta, H., Ionic Liquids for the Production of Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres: Opportunities and Challenges. Adv. Polym. Sci. 2016, 271, 133-168. 7. Buijtenhuijs, F. A.; Abbas, M.; Witteveen, A. J., The degradation and stabilization of cellulose dissolved in N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO). Papier 1986, 40, 615-19. 8. Rosenau, T.; Potthast, A.; Sixta, H.; Kosma, P., The chemistry of side reactions and byproduct for-mation in the system NMMO/cellulose (Lyocell process). Prog. Polym. Sci. 2001, 26 (9), 1763-1837.