Patent ID: 9708760
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: D21C,D21H

Claim:
1. A method of making an esterified cellulose pulp composition, comprising: (a) combining an ionic liquid and a cellulose pulp to provide a cellulose solution, wherein the cellulose pulp has an alpha cellulose content from 70 to 90 wt %, a hemicellulose content from about 5 to about 20% by weight, and a degree of polymerization from about 150 to about 1,000; (b) adding an esterification agent, optionally a catalyst to the cellulose solution to provide a reaction mixture; and (c) isolating the esterified cellulose pulp composition from the reaction mixture; wherein the esterified cellulose pulp composition has a degree of substitution from about 0.1 to about 3.0, a sulfur content less than about 45 ppm, and a nitrogen content less than about 0.2% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.