Study of the stability of cellulose–holocellulose solutions in N,N-dimethylacetamide–lithium chloride by size exclusion chromatography

Solutions in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC)–LiCl were prepared from two different pulps (sulphite pulp from softwood and cotton linters) in different ageing states. Degradation of the stirred solutions at 35–40°C was observed by determining the molecular masses by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). We showed that under these conditions cellulose and holocelluloses are degraded in DMAC–LiCl and that the rate of degradation is dependent on the temperature and the initial state of degradation of the sample. Temperature and dissolution time are recommended to be reduced, especially for aged samples.