초록
<P>We report an extremely biocompatible solvent for plant cell walls based on a polar liquid zwitterion that dissolves cellulose, the most recalcitrant component of the plant cell walls. The polar liquid zwitterion does not affect the viability and activity of <I>Escherichia coli</I>, even at high concentrations. We demonstrate conversion of cell walls to ethanol via a starch-like process, namely successive dissolution, hydrolysis and fermentation in the same reaction pot.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B><BR><IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/jacsat/2017/jacsat.2017.139.issue-45/jacs.7b08914/production/images/medium/ja-2017-08914g_0007.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/ja7b08914'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>