The effect of changing the components of an ionic liquid upon the solubility of lignin

A facile technique for the quantification of lignin solubility in ionic liquids has been established. This was used to examine the effect of the anionic and cationic components of ionic liquids on lignin solubility. Changing the cation was shown to have a significant effect on lignin solubility. Interaction of aromatic cations with the solute was significant in most, but not all, ionic liquids. The anion was required to have a minimum hydrogen bonding basicity value for lignin to dissolve, but after this point the anion effect on the overall lignin solubility was negligible relative to the cation.