Zimmer Aktiengesellschaft

Lurgi Zimmer Aktiengesellschaft

Instytut Wlokien Chemicznych

Institute of Chemical Fibres

Pawel Starostka

Henryk Struszczyk

Alojzy Urbanowski

Wlodzimierz Mikolajczyk

Gerhard Keunecke

Dariusz Wawro

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.

Process for producing cellulosic mouldings

A method for the manufacture of cellulose carbamate, whereby cellulose pulp is preliminarily activated by alkaline, hydrothermal and/or enzymatic treatment, then the activated cellulose pulp is mixed with aqueous urea solution, the water in the solution replaced with an organic reaction carrier, and thereafter the cellulose is reacted with urea in the liquid phase to yield cellulose carbamate, which is separated from the liquid medium and washed. The method results in uniform substitution and distribution of carbamate groups and in cellulose chain, which leads to good solubility of the cellulose carbamate in aqueous alkali solution as well as excellent spinnability for producing fibers, films, and other products.

Method for modified manufacture of cellulose carbamate

Growing community of inventors

Lodz, Poland

Pawel Starostka