Liquids

A process for dissolving a polymeric material, the process comprising contacting the polymeric material with an ionic liquid,

• the ionic liquid comprising an anion and a cation wherein the cation is a tertiary ammonium ion of the formula (I)
• N+HRR′R″ (I)
• wherein:
• R is an alkyl group substituted with one or more hydroxy groups;
• R′ and R″ are independently alkyl or substituted alkyl groups optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing functional group, an alkoxy group, and a hydroxy group;
• the nitrogen-containing functional group selected from the group consisting of nitrile, nitro, and amino;
• the substituted alkyl optionally comprising one or more ether linkages;
• and
• the anion is selected from the group consisting of a nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, carbonate, sulphonate, and carboxylate.