Toward Greener Solvent Systems for the Electrospinning of Cellulose and Its Derivatives

Electrospinning cellulose and its derivatives commonly relies on hazardous solvents, motivating the development of less hazardous alternatives. This narrative review examines conventional and alternative solvent systems, relating polymer solubility, processing conditions, and reported fiber morphology to solvent hazards and practical limitations. Representative studies were identified through targeted searches and reference tracking. For cellulose derivatives, aqueous mixtures of acetone, acetic acid, or ethanol and dimethyl carbonate-based formulations provide alternatives to systems containing hazardous amides or chlorinated solvents. For native cellulose, the reviewed routes include N-methylmorpholine N-oxide, aqueous alkali, ionic liquids, and a switchable solvent system based on 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, carbon dioxide, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Reported mean diameters span 160–1280 nm for cellulose acetate in acetic acid/water and 250–750 nm for cellulose in N-methylmorpholine N-oxide/water. These ranges overlap those obtained with conventional systems, but differences in polymer grade and spinning conditions prevent direct performance comparisons. Lower solvent hazard does not establish lower overall environmental impact: heating, coagulation, washing, carrier polymers, and solvent recovery can introduce additional burdens. The available evidence supports several candidate substitutions, while matched-condition comparisons and quantitative measurements of energy use, recovery yield, waste generation, and productivity are needed to establish their suitability for wider application.