Process for spinning dissolved cellulose

A process for forming cellulose fibers or film from dissolved cellulose, said process comprising the steps of:

• dissolving (114) cellulose in an aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to provide a cellulose spin dope (103);
• extruding (108) the cellulose spin dope (103) into a coagulation bath liquid comprising an aqueous coagulation sodium salt solution, the coagulation bath liquid being present in a coagulation vessel (104), to provide cellulose fibers or film;
• withdrawing (109) the cellulose fibers or film from the coagulation vessel (104), and withdrawing, directly and/or indirectly, a portion of the coagulation bath liquid from the coagulation vessel (104);
• the withdrawn portion of the coagulation bath liquid comprising an aqueous solution of the coagulation sodium salt and sodium hydroxide (NaOH);
• cooling (107) at least a portion of the withdrawn portion of the coagulation bath liquid to a temperature of −10° C. to −35° C. to precipitate solid coagulation sodium salt, being heavier than a remaining liquid phase, and to freeze water to floating ice, thereby decreasing the concentration of the coagulation sodium salt and increasing the concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the remaining liquid phase;
• separating (118) the remaining liquid phase from the precipitated solid coagulation sodium salt and the floating ice, respectively;
• and
• using at least a portion of the separated remaining liquid phase (113) comprising sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in said step of dissolving (114) the cellulose and providing the cellulose spin dope (103).