Rationalizing cellulose (in)solubility: reviewing basic physicochemical aspects and role of hydrophobic interactions

Rationalizing cellulose (in)solubility: reviewing basic physicochemical aspects and role of hydrophobic interactions

Despite being the world’s most abundant natural polymer and one of the most studied, cellulose is still challenging researchers. Cellulose is known to be insoluble in water and in many organic solvents, but can be dissolved in a number of solvents of intermediate properties, like N -methylmorpholine...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cellulose (London) Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 581 - 587
Main Authors: Medronho, Bruno, Romano, Anabela, Miguel, Maria Graça, Stigsson, Lars, Lindman, Björn
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-06-2012
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Amphiphiles
Bioorganic Chemistry
bonding
Bonding strength
Cellulose
Ceramics
Chemical bonds
Chemical Sciences
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Composites
Fysikalisk kemi
Glass
Hydrogen
Hydrogen bonding
Hydrophobic interactions
Hydrophobicity
Ionic liquids
Kemi
Natural Materials
Natural Sciences
Naturvetenskap
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Polarity
Polymer Sciences
Polymers
Review
Solubility
Solvents
Sustainable Development
Hydrophobic interactions
Hydrogen bonding
Cellulose
Solubility
Amphiphiles
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Summary:Despite being the world’s most abundant natural polymer and one of the most studied, cellulose is still challenging researchers. Cellulose is known to be insoluble in water and in many organic solvents, but can be dissolved in a number of solvents of intermediate properties, like N -methylmorpholine N -oxide and ionic liquids which, apparently, are not related. It can also be dissolved in water at extreme pHs, in particular if a cosolute of intermediate polarity is added. The insolubility in water is often referred to strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding between cellulose molecules. Revisiting some fundamental polymer physicochemical aspects (i.e. intermolecular interactions) a different picture is now revealed: cellulose is significantly amphiphilic and hydrophobic interactions are important to understand its solubility pattern. In this paper we try to provide a basis for developing novel solvents for cellulose based on a critical analysis of the intermolecular interactions involved and mechanisms of dissolution.
ISSN:0969-0239
1572-882X
DOI:10.1007/s10570-011-9644-6