Recent Progress in Processing Cellulose Using Ionic Liquids as Solvents

Cellulose-based materials have attracted great attention due to the demand for eco-friendly materials and renewable energy alternatives. An increase in the use of these materials is expected in the coming years due to progressive decline in the supply of petrochemicals. Based on the limitations of cellulose in terms of dissolution/processing, and focused on green chemistry, new cellulose production techniques are emerging, such as dissolution and functionalization in ionic liquids which are known as green solvents. This review summarizes the recent ionic liquids used in processing cellulose, including pretreatment, hydrolysis, functionalization, and conversion into bio-based platform chemicals. The recent literatures investigating the progress that ILs have made in their transition from academia to commercial application of cellulosic biomass are also reviewed.