Patent ID: 8163215

Claim:
A process for the preparation of regenerated biopolymers in the form of carbohydrates, comprising dissolving biopolymers in the form of carbohydrates in a solution system comprising a molten ionic liquid comprising a cation that is formed from compounds which contain at least one five-to six membered heterocyclic radical and a protic solvent, and precipitating dissolved biopolymers in the form of carbohydrates in a coagulation medium, comprising a solvent which does not dissolve the biopolymers and is miscible with the molten ionic liquid, wherein said protic solvent is selected from the group consisting of 1) water as the sole protic solvent which is present in said solution system in an amount of at least 6 wt. %, 2) at least 0.1 wt. % based on said solution system of at least one protic solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol and 1-butanol; and 3) water and at least one protic solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol and 1-butanol.