Research and development of regenerated cellulose fibers prepared from renewable and biodegradable natural cellulose is of great significance to making full use of cellulose resources and promoting sustainable development of fiber industry. Recently
novel regenerated cellulose fibers have been prepared from ionic liquids and alkaline solution systems due to their excellent solubility for cellulose. The preparation processes of these fibers are comparatively simple and cause less pollution than that of the traditional techniques. The fibers produced by the ionic liquids method have excellent mechanical properties
while the fibers produced by the alkaline solution method are comparatively inexpensive. The recent developments of novel regenerated cellulose fibers using ionic liquids and alkaline solution systems as solvents are reviewed
including types of solvents
selection of raw materials
preparation methods and mechanical properties of the fibers. The effects of various factors on the physical properties of novel fibers are also summarized and compared. The challenges and future research trends of novel regenerated cellulose fibers are suggested.