Simultaneous bench scale production of dissolving grade pulp and valuable hemicelluloses from softwood kraft pulp by ionic liquid extraction.

•Bench scale ionic liquid extraction of wood pulp yielded dissolving pulp quality pulp.•Coproduction of a high quality hemicellulose fraction was demonstrated.•Overall yield in the fractionation was high with 95.5wt.%.•Films of the modified hemicellulose fraction showed excellent barrier properties.•The films had in addition good strength properties.