Green synthesis of a novel biodegradable copolymer base on cellulose and poly(p-dioxanone) in ionic liquid

A new cellulose graft copolymer was synthesized in 1-N-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) by the ring opening graft polymerization (ROGP) of p-dioxanone (PDO) onto cellulose. The structure of the copolymer was characterized by 13C and 1H NMR, WAXD, DSC as well as SEM. Cellulose graft copolymers with a molar substitution (MS) in the range of 2.08–4.60 were obtained with 24 h at 80 °C in a completely homogeneous procedure. The obtained copolymers exhibited the clear glass transition temperatures (Tg) indicating the inter-molecular and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds in cellulose molecules had been destroyed. The reaction media applied can be easily recycled and reused.