Reactive Deep Eutectic Solvent for an Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Cellulose Carbamate

Abstract

The limited solubility of natural cellulose in water and common organic solvents hinders its diverse applications, despite being one of the most abundant and easily accessible biopolymers on Earth. Chemical derivatization, such as cellulose carbamate (CC), offers a pathway to enhance both solubility and industrial processability. In this study, CC was synthesized by exploiting a novel type IV deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of erbium trichloride and urea. This DES was shown to be not only an environmentally friendly reaction medium/catalyst but also actively participated in the synthetic process as a reagent. The resultant cellulose carbamate samples were characterized through FT-IR and elemental analysis. A nitrogen content value of 1.59% was afforded determining a degree of substitution corresponding to a value of 0.19. One of the key scientific advancements lies in the preparation of cellulose carbamate using a straightforward and cost-effective method. This approach utilizes non-toxic compounds, aligning with the principles of green chemistry and contributing to sustainable development in cellulose derivative production.

Sustainable Synthesis of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Atenolol in Deep Eutectic Solvents

“…Based on this background and our expertise in the use of the DESs as reaction media in organic synthesis [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ], we aimed to unlock the potential of DESs to promote the green synthesis of APIs. Therefore, this work wants to address and reduce the environmental impact associated with atenolol synthesis using a DES as an eco-friendly reaction medium and streamlining the synthetic process.…”