Demonstrating Sustainable Biomass Utilization and Processing Using Ionic Liquids – An Introduction to Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratories

Daniel Rauber^{1, 2}, Michael Conrad¹, Johannes Huwer¹, Harald Natter^{1, 2} and Rolf Hempelmann^{1, 2,}

¹Department of Physical Chemistry and Chemistry Didactics, Saarland University, Campus B2.2, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany

²Transfercentre Sustainable Electrochemistry, Saarland University and KIST Europe, Campus Dudweiler, Zeile 3, 66125 Saarbrücken

Cite this paper

Daniel Rauber, Michael Conrad, Johannes Huwer, Harald Natter and Rolf Hempelmann. Demonstrating Sustainable Biomass Utilization and Processing Using Ionic Liquids – An Introduction to Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratories. World Journal of Chemical Education. 2017; 5(5):158-163. doi: 10.12691/WJCE-5-5-3

Abstract

A more sustainable, greener chemistry aiming at the utilization of renewable resources is a main research focus to reduce human environmental impact. Unfortunately, there is a lack of powerful, environmentally benign solvents for the two most abundant renewable biopolymers, cellulose and lignin. Ionic liquids are here introduced to undergraduate chemistry laboratories as recyclable, tunable solvents for the dissolution and processing of biomass in the form of wood and its components to create alternative processes that are safer as well as waste- and additive-free. These experiments emphasize the principles of green chemistry and demonstrate the scope and potential of ionic liquids for the production of novel, biodegradable materials from renewable resources.

Keywords

ionic liquids, biomass, polymer chemistry, hands-on learning, green chemistry, material science, solvents

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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