Patent ID: 8574368

Claim:
A process for the preparation of water-soluble cellulose hydrolysis products, which comprises admixing cellulose with an ionic liquid capable of solvating or dissolving at least some of the cellulose, said ionic liquid being a compound comprised solely of cations and anions and which exists in a liquid state at a temperature at or below 150° C., the cations in said ionic liquid having the general formula: in which Z represents a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, R 1 represents a methyl or ethyl group, each of R 2 and R 3 , which may be the same or different, is selected from C 4-8 alkyl, optionally-substituted benzyl, optionally-substituted phenyl, and C 5-7 cycloalkyl; and R 4 represents C 1 -8 alkyl, optionally-substituted benzyl, optionally-substituted phenyl or C 5-7 cyclohexyl; in which the optional substituents on a benzyl or phenyl ring are one, two or three substituents selected from C 1-4 alkyl or alkoxy groups, halogen atoms and nitro groups; and treating the resulting solvate or solution with an acid in the presence of water, said acid having a pKa in water of less than 2 at 25° C.