Cellulose Processing with Ionic Liquids

Alistair W. T. King holds the title of Docent (Adjunct Professor) and University Researcher at the University of Helsinki (Materials Chemistry Division). He works in the general area of synthetic organic chemistry and biomass. Most recently he has had a strong collaboration with Prof. Michael Hummel, Prof. Herbert Sixta and Prof. Ilkka Kilpelaeinen in the development of ionic liquids for application in a novel fibre-spinning process (IONCELL (R)). This was awarded the H&M Foundation global change award for the promotion of environmental sustainability and circular economy in textiles production. His core research interests and expertise are in sustainable chemical processing, physical organic chemistry, cellulose chemistry and technology, fundamentals of biomass structure, NMR and ionic liquids. His main research topics are the development of ionic liquids for cellulose processing and as media for NMR analysis of cellulosic biomass. His main application interests are in the bulk and surface chemical modification of cellulosics.


Michael Hummel is an Assoc. Prof. and ERC Starting Grant recipient at the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Aalto University). After a thorough education in the synthesis of a wide spectrum of heterocyclic compounds, he moved to the development and engineering of products from bio-based materials. He has been one of the key persons in the development of a new fibre spinning process, termed Ioncell (R). This technology offers new product possibilities for wood-based feedstocks and enables the use of low-value waste material such as paper, cardboard or recycled cotton. Ioncell (R) was recognized with the European Paper Recycling Award by the European Paper Recycling Council and the first ever Global Change Award by the H&M Foundation. Currently, he is working on the development of biobased textile dyes and a new class of carbon fibres and carbon materials derived from biopolymers.