Electrospinning of cellulose carboxylic esters synthesized under homogeneous conditions: Effects of the ester degree of substitution and acyl group chain length on the morphology of the fabricated mats

[Display omitted] •Sisal cellulose esters were synthesized in LiCl/DMAc solvent system.•Cellulose esters with different degree of substitution (DS) were obtained.•Cellulose esters in trifluoracetic acid solutions were electrospun.•Effects of DS/ester chain length/flow rate on mats morphology were studied.•Mats morphology → tuned by the length of the acyl group, conditions of electrospinning. The increased awareness about environmental issues has resulted in developing novel materials and sustainable solutions to reduce the dependence on fossil-based products. Herein, cellulose from sisal was derivatized into carboxylic esters (acetate, Ac; butyrate, Bu; and hexanoate, Hx); the produced materials were “shaped” into mats composed of nano- and ultrathin fibers. Our objective was to assess the effects of cellulose ester degree of substitution (DS), low- and high DS, ca. 0.2 and 2.6; the length of the acyl group and the electrospinning flow rate, 45.5 and 65.5 μL/min on the morphology of the fibrous material obtained therefrom. Cellulose was converted into its carboxylic esters under homogeneous conditions using LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide solvent, and acid anhydrides as acylating agents. The obtained cellulose- acetate, Cel-Ac, butyrate, Cel-Bu, and hexanoate, Cel-Hx were dissolved in trifluoracetic acid. The solutions of esters were subjected to electrospinning, under positive voltage of 25 kV, and needle-collector distance of 4 cm. Scanning Electron Microscopy of the electrospun mats showed the formation of ultrathin- (100 nm > diameter