Modification Of Cellulosic Materials By Reactive Extrusion Process With Ionic Liquids

Cellulose is considered as the most abundant polymer, is becoming of increasing interest due to its fibrillar nature and biodegradability, which is ideal for the chemical modifications owing to the abundance of functional groups (hydroxyl). Ionic liquids have plasticizer behavior and classified as environment-friendly green solvent, and the melting extrusion process is a high production process without any environment hazard (ecofriendly).Application of melt extrusion process for dissolving and modifying the cellulose using ionic liquids would be sign of progress in the field of cellulose modification.The main purpose of this study was to determine whether the cellulose dissolution and modification could be done through extrusion process, and this could be done through the following objectives;1. Dissolution of cellulose through melt extrusion in the presence of ionic liquid and configuration of the extrusion process.2. Modification of cellulose with succinic anhydride and Dodecenyl Succinic Anhydride (DDSA) reagents through melt extrusion in the presence of ionic liquid.3. Modification of cellulose with phthalic anhydride and (Methyl Tetra Hydro Phthalic Anhydride) MTHPA reagents through melt extrusion in the presence of ionic liquid. 4. Modification of cellulose with Polyethylene glycol (PEG2000and PEG4000) through melts extrusion process in the presence of ionic liquid.The properties of modified cellulose were investigated by Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS13C-NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction technique, and theromgravimetric analysis. Generally, FT-IR data were found to have a new peak in contrast to the original reactant which clearly indicated the presence of new groups. CP/MAS13C-NMR analysis approved the existence of reaction between cellulose and reagents. The TGA analysis showed that the thermal stability of modified cellulose was changed after modifications. Moreover the effects of molecular weight and the amount of reagent on the degree of substitution and the thermal properties of modified cellulose were investigated.In general, modified cellulose (succinylated and Phthalated cellulose) with low degrees of substitutions has prepared using reactive extrusion. And also cellulose/PEG composites were prepared successfully through reactive extrusion.