Phosphorylation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) has remained a marginal activity despite the undisputed application potential in flame-retardant materials, sustainable high-capacity ion-exchange materials, or substrates for biomineralization among others. This is largely due to strenuous extraction methods prone to a combination of poor reproducibility, low degrees of substitution, disappointing yields, and impractical reaction sequences. Here, we demonstrate an improved methodology relying on the modification routines for phosphorylated cellulose nanofibers and hydrolysis by gaseous HCl to isolate CNCs. This allows us to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings and to reliably and reproducibly extract phosphorylated CNCs with exceptionally high surface charge (∼2000 mmol/kg) in a straightforward routine that minimizes water consumption and maximizes yields. The CNCs were characterized by NMR, ζpotential, conductometric titration, thermogravimetry, elemental analysis, wide-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy.

Even small amounts of elastane in cotton-elastane blended textiles can prevent fiber-to-fiber recycling strategies in textile recycling. Herein, the selective separation of elastane from cotton blends was addressed by the aminolytic degradation of the synthetic component. Polar aprotic solvents were tested as elastane solvents, but side reactions impeded aminolysis with some of them. Aminolysis of elastane succeeded under mild conditions using dimethyl sulfoxide in combination with diethylenetriamine and 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene as a cleaving agent and catalyst, respectively. The analysis of the nitrogen content in the recovered cellulose fraction demonstrated that 2 h of reaction at 80 °C reduced the elastane content to values lower than 0.08%. The characterization of the recovered cellulose showed that the applied conditions did not affect the macromolecular properties of cellulose and maintained a cellulose I crystal structure. Degraded elastane products were recovered through precipitation with water. Finally, the cellulosic component was turned into new fibers by dry-jet wet spinning with excellent tensile properties.

The hydrolysis kinetics of 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-enium acetate [mTBDH][OAc] was investigated in a comprehensive study by the utilization of the well-known Schlenk technique to achieve a better understanding of its stability for dry-jet wet spinning applications (e.g., Ioncell) and due to the course of operation for recovery methods like fractional distillation. Decomposition behavior as a function of temperature, time, acid–base stoichiometry, and water content was extensively analyzed and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, kinetic models were formulated for the prediction of the stability and the results were compared with the closely related amidine-based analogues 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-enium acetate [DBNH][OAc] and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-enium acetate [DBUH][OAc].

In this study, we propose a full gamma-valerolactone (GVL) organosolv biorefinery concept including the utilization of all pulping streams, solvent recovery, and preliminary material and energy balances. GVL is a renewable and non-toxic solvent that fractionates woody biomass. The silver birch chips were pulped (45–65 wt% GVL, 150 °C, 2 h) under a series of acid-catalyzed conditions (5–12 kg H₂SO₄/t), and the fully bleached pulp was spun into fibers by the IONCELL® process and knitted into the fabric. The dissolved lignin was precipitated by water from spent liquor (1:1) and processed into polyhydroxyurethane. Most of the dissolved hemicelluloses were in the form of xylose, therefore, the crystallization efficiency of xylose from spent liquor in the presence of residual GVL was studied. The GVL recovery rate in the lab column was 66%, however by increasing the number of equilibrium stages, 99% recovery could be achieved.

The chemical recycling of cotton towels via the Ioncell® technique is demonstrated. Cotton is the most common natural fiber. The season's value jumped 31% to 54.3 billion US$ in 2020/2021, and annually the average value in quota-free periods accounts to 46.3 billion US$. Consequently, enormous amounts of cotton wastes are emerging. Especially, European countries are forced by the new legislation of the union to develop new recycling strategies. Due to uncountable cotton applications, various types of garments exist, which require different recycling strategies. The recycling of an additional cotton waste side stream of Lindström Oy white pre and dyed and white postconsumer cotton roll towels was pursued. The mechanical properties of the fibers and yarns have been evaluated. Thereby, the following elongations and tenacities of conditioned fibers produced at DR11 have been achieved: 10.4%/59.5 cN/tex for preconsumer and 10.6%/60.4 cN/tex for postconsumer white cotton, 10.4%/60.0 cN/tex for postconsumer blue cotton. The achieved elongations at break are close to values reported in literature (7%–14%), however, the tenacities exceed reported values (40–58 cN/tex). Highly oriented fibers of high quality have been produced and with regards to the mechanical properties, a technique to perform fiber-to-fiber upcycling is illustrated.

Estimated 20 % of global clean water pollution is attributed to textile production. Dyeing and finishing processes use an extensive amount of water and chemicals, and most of the effluents and wastewater is released into the environment. In this study, we explore spin-dyeing of man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) with vat dyes using the Ioncell process, circumventing the ubiquitous use of fresh water and potentially reducing effluents streams to a great extent. Spin-dyeing is an established process for synthetic polymers but is not common for MMCFs. Regenerated cellulose fibres were produced through dissolution of dissolving pulp in the ionic liquid 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene acetate. The produced fibres were processed into yarn and a jersey fabric was knitted. Mechanical and colour fastness properties were tested. The fibres properties were also assessed through SEM, birefringence, and crystallinity measurements. Fibres with excellent mechanical properties (tenacity higher than 50 cN/tex) and colour fastness were produced, with most samples receiving the highest or next highest performance grade. The spun-dyed fibres also hold great potential to be recycled themselves without colour change or loss in colour intensity. Textiles with colours produced in large quantities such as black or navy blue could be the first market entry point.