Patent ID: 11884751
Assignee: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C | IPC C

Claim 0:
1. A method for recycling a post-consumer cellulose waste containing cellulose, the method comprising:
hydrolyzing the post-consumer cellulose waste containing the cellulose such that the cellulose in the hydrolyzed cellulose waste has a degree of polymerization of about 240 to about 860, the post-consumer cellulose waste being discarded after use by consumers;
dissolving the cellulose in the hydrolyzed post-consumer cellulose waste having the degree of polymerization of about 240 to about 860 in an aqueous solution containing (i) lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and (ii) urea ((NH2)2CO);
during dissolving the cellulose, maintaining a dissolution temperature setpoint of the aqueous solution between −15° C. to les than 0° C. such that a cellulose solution containing the dissolved cellulose from the post-consumer cellulose waste having a cellulose concentration of about 2% to about 10% by weight is produced; and
extruding the cellulose solution containing the dissolved cellulose into a coagulation bath containing a coagulant configured to coalesce the dissolved cellulose in the extruded solution, thereby reforming the dissolved cellulose from the cellulose waste into a regenerated fiber or film.