Abstract
Biopolymers and their derivatives are being actively investigated as substitutes for petroleum-based polymers. This has generated an intense interest in investigating new solvents, in particular for cellulose, chitin/chitosan, and starch. This overview focuses on recent advances in the dissolution and derivatization of these polysaccharides in solutions of strong electrolytes in dipolar aprotic solvents. A brief description of the molecular structures of these biopolymers is given, with emphases on the properties that are relevant to derivatization, namely crystallinity and accessibility. The mechanism of cellulose dissolution is then discussed, followed by a description of the strategies employed for the synthesis of cellulose derivatives (carboxylic acid esters, and ethers) under homogeneous reaction conditions. The same sequence of presentation has been followed for chitin/chitosan and starch. Future perspectives for this subject are summarized, in particular with regard to compliance with the principles of green chemistry.
Highlights
Relevance to Green ChemistryThe development of polymer technology and consequent increase in world production of petroleum-based polymers has unquestionably resulted in important benefits for diverse industrial sectors
This overview focuses on recent advances in the dissolution and derivatization of cellulose, chitin/chitosan, and starch in solutions of strong electrolytes dissolved in dipolar aprotic solvents, in particular N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)
We present here an overview on the dissolution and derivatization of cellulose, chitin/chitosan, and starch by strong electrolytes in the above-mentioned solvents
Summary
This overview focuses on recent advances in the dissolution and derivatization of cellulose, chitin/chitosan, and starch in solutions of strong electrolytes dissolved in dipolar aprotic solvents, in particular N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). These solvents induce swelling, but do not dissolve some of the above-mentioned biopolymers, namely cellulose and chitin. The need for considering the physico-chemical characteristics of the polysaccharide solutions is, justified With this background, we present here an overview on the dissolution and derivatization of cellulose, chitin/chitosan, and starch by strong electrolytes in the above-mentioned solvents. We dwell more on cellulose derivatives, in particular the esters and ethers, because their synthesis has received more attention; they are industrially applied on much wider scale than chitin/chitosan and/or starch
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