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"Green Cellulose Film Clean Production New Process" Project Passed Scientific and Technological Achievement Identification
On April 26, a project appraisal meeting for the "Green Cellulose Film Clean Production New Process" was held in Beijing. This initiative was jointly developed by the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Weifang Henglian Cellulose Paper Co., Ltd. The event was organized by the Science and Technology Bureau of Weifang City. Experts from prestigious institutions such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Hefei University of Technology, Tianjin University of Construction, Beijing Physical and Chemical Center, and the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, participated in the evaluation. These experts are well-recognized in the fields of cellulose science and green chemistry.
During the meeting, the project team presented detailed reports on both the work progress and technical development. Qiu Jinjiang, General Manager of Henglian Cellulose Paper Co., Ltd., delivered the project work report, while Zhang Jun, a researcher from the Institute of Chemistry, provided the technical report. The experts also reviewed video footage of the pilot production process, examined technical data, product quality inspection reports, and environmental certification documents.
After thorough discussions and questions, the expert committee unanimously concluded that the new green cellulose film production process aligns with the principles of green chemistry and clean production. It offers significant energy savings and environmental benefits. The use of ionic liquid direct solvent technology marks a global first, with the overall technical level leading internationally. The committee also suggested further improvements and emphasized the importance of protecting intellectual property to accelerate industrial application.
Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer, with over 100 billion tons produced annually. As a non-edible biomass resource, it is expected to play a key role in future chemical industries. Its excellent fiber-forming, film-forming, and mechanical properties make it suitable for various applications, including daily necessities, printing composites, pharmaceuticals, food packaging, tapes, cables, and insulation materials. However, due to its difficulty in melting and dissolving, traditional methods rely on complex viscose processes that are energy-intensive and environmentally harmful.
The new ionic liquid-based process represents a breakthrough in green technology. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation, Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics at the Institute of Chemical Physics has made significant progress in developing sustainable methods for processing cellulosic materials. This research earned the 2013 Beijing Natural Science Award and shows great potential for industrialization.
In 2011, the Institute of Chemistry partnered with Weifang Henglian Cellulose Paper Co., Ltd., China's largest cellulosic film manufacturer, to develop an industrial-scale production system based on ionic liquids. After more than three years of joint efforts, the project team successfully developed key technologies, including low-cost ionic liquid synthesis, batch preparation of cellulose solutions, and efficient solvent recovery. The company also achieved major breakthroughs in equipment development and launched a 1,000-ton industrial production line.
Compared to the traditional viscose process, which uses toxic chemicals like caustic soda, carbon disulfide, sulfuric acid, and chlorine, the new method only requires ionic liquids and water. Through advanced separation techniques, the ionic liquids and water can be efficiently recovered and reused, eliminating waste emissions entirely. Additionally, the new process reduces the production cycle by 95% and significantly lowers energy consumption and emissions.
The appraisal meeting was attended by officials from the Science and Technology Bureau of Weifang City, the Institute of Chemistry, Henglian Group, and the project development team. This event marked a major milestone in the advancement of green and sustainable cellulose film production.