Patent ID: 8524887

Claim:
A process for producing cellulose esters, said process comprising: a) contacting cellulose with at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate to form a cellulose solution; b) contacting said cellulose solution with at least one acylating reagent at a contact temperature and contact time sufficient to produce an acylated cellulose solution comprising at least one cellulose ester; c) contacting said acylated cellulose solution with at least one non-solvent to cause said cellulose ester to precipitate to produce a cellulose ester slurry comprising precipitated cellulose ester and said tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate; and d) separating at least a portion of said precipitated cellulose ester from said cellulose ester slurry to produce a recovered cellulose ester and precipitation liquids comprising said tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate.