Lurgi Zimmer Aktiengesellschaft

Institute of Chemical Fibres

Dariusz Wawro

Henryk Struszczyk

Alojzy Urbanowski

Pawel Starostka

Wlodzimierz Mikolajczyk

Process for producing cellulosic moldings such as fibers, foils, casings and beads from cellulose, wherein (a) the initial cellulose is hydrothermally treated with water in a water/cellulose ratio on a weight basis of at least 1 at a temperature in the range from about 100.degree. to about 200.degree. C. and under a pressure in the range from 0.1 to about 1.5 MPa; (b) the treated cellulose is dissolved in an aqueous solution of alkali hydroxide at a temperature of at least 0.degree. C. to form a homogenous cellulose solution containing from about 5% to about 10% by weight cellulose and at maximum 10% by weight alkali hydroxide, and (c) the alkaline cellulose solution is formed and coagulated by contacting it with an aqueous solution containing 1 to about 30% by weight of an acid. This fully ecological process avoids handling of toxic products or by-products and uses aqueous solvents instead of expensive organic solvents. The cellulose solution is stable for at least 48 hours.

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Lodz, Poland

Dariusz Wawro