We developed flame-retardant thermoplastics directly from biomass just by dissolution into ionic liquids and precipitation. During the dissolution, a phosphonate-type ionic liquid adducted on the polymers included in biomass such as cellulose through reaction of the hydroxyl groups. In this method, more than 86% of the hydroxy groups were maintained after ionic liquid substitution because the single phosphonate-type ionic liquid acted as a plasticizer and flame retardant in the plant biomass. Therefore, the plant biomass-derived flame-retardant thermoplastics have the potential for further functionalization.
- Ryunosuke Nishita
- Kosuke Kuroda
- Kenji Takahashi
