Chitin Fibre Formation by the Solution Blow Spinning Method, Using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium Acetate Ionic Liquid as a Solvent

Chitin is the second most abundant polysaccharide on the Earth after cellulose, therefore there is a tangible need for finding new environmentally-friendly solvents for the manufacture of useful forms of that polymer. Ionic liquids have been recently proposed as a possible type of solvent for chitin and cellulose. The possibility of the dissolution of chitin of various origin in six selected ionic liquids was investigated. Chitin samples were characterised by the main characteristic properties: degree of N-acetylation (by FTIR spectroscopy), degree of crystallinity (by WAXS), average molecular weight (by the viscometric method) and physical form. The studies performed allowed to find the optimum chitin-ionic liquid system based on 1-btyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate for the manufacture of chitin fibres by the solution blow spinning method. Final products were characterized by the same set of parameters as the initial materials.