May 21, 2009 Scientists at Queen’s University Belfast have
discovered a new eco-friendly way of dissolving wood using ionic
liquids that may help its transformation into popular products
such as bio fuels, textiles, clothes and paper. Dr Héctor
Rodríguez and Professor Robin Rogers from Queen's School of
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering worked along with The
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, to come up with a more
cost and energy efficient way of processing wood. Their
solution, which is reported in the journal Green Chemistry, may
see a new sustainable future for industry based on bio-renewable
resources. At present wood is broken down mainly by the Kraft
pulping process, which originates from the 19th century and uses
a wasteful technology relying on polluting chemicals. The key
reason for tolerating this method is that it is very difficult
to break down and separate the different elements of wood. Until
now any alternatives to the process have presented similar
problems. The Queen’s researchers found