Patent ID: 8785158

Claim:
Method for dissolving cellulose, said method consisting of the steps of a) preparing an aqueous suspension of cellulose having a cellulose content of at least 0.1% by weight; b) adjusting the pH value of the suspension obtained in step a) to a value of from 3 to 7; c) adding to the suspension an enzyme with endoglucanase activity in an amount wherein the endoglucanase activity is from 20 to 2000×10 3 IU/kg of dry pulp to obtain a mixture; d) heating the mixture obtained in step c) at a temperature between 40 and 65° C. until the degree of polymerization of the cellulose is not lower than a value of 100; e) adding an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide in an amount above 15% by weight to the mixture obtained in step d); and f) heating the mixture obtained in step e) at a temperature between 15 and 50° C., to obtain a cellulose solution comprising at least 50% dissolved cellulose; and, optionally, g) removing air and solids from the cellulose solution.