A green binary solvent for the electrospinning of cellulose acetate

The demand for sustainable materials has increased the need for benign solvent systems in polymer processing technologies. In the field of electrospinning, the selection of the solvent system is critical not only for determining the final material properties but also for improving the overall sustainability of the fiber production process. Cellulose acetate (CA) electrospinning typically relies on hazardous or non-green solvents, limiting its sustainable processing. In this study, we present a sustainable approach for electrospinning of CA, by identifying and validating a green binary solvent system based on dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). CA solutions were prepared using DMC/DMSO (w/w) ratios of 100/0, 83/17, 80/20, 75/25, 67/33 and 50/50, and the influence of the solvent composition on solution processability and fiber properties was studied. By tuning the solvent ratio, the fiber diameter, surface morphology and mechanical performance could be modified. Higher contents of the more volatile solvent (DMC) led to porous fiber surfaces, while increasing amounts of DMSO led to smooth fiber surfaces. In addition, the mechanical properties of the electrospun fiber mats were strongly dependent on the solvent composition. Overall, this study provides a new and sustainable approach to green electrospinning of CA, establishing DMC/DMSO as an effective binary solvent system for producing CA fibers with adaptable properties for various eco-friendly applications.