| abstract |
A method for fractionating a lignocellulosic material, the method comprising; contacting ( 2 ) the lignocellulosic material with an ionic liquid ( 3 ) and dissolving the lignocellulosic material therein, providing a second liquid ( 7 ) which is immiscible with the ionic liquid and is also a non-solvent for cellulose, adding the second liquid to the ionic liquid so as to form a biphasic system ( 6 ) which comprises an ionic liquid phase essentially free of lignocellulose and a second liquid phase comprising lignin in solution and cellulose as a precipitate, separating the two phases and recovering ( 8 ) the precipitated cellulose from the separated second liquid phase. |