Alkalization and Cationization of Cellulose: Effects on Intrinsic Viscosity

作者：Moral Ana; Aguado Roberto; Tijero Antonio

来源：Fibers and Polymers, 2016, 17(6): 857-861.

DOI：10.1007/s12221-016-5819-y

• Alkalization
• Cationization
• Cellulose
• Viscosity

Researchers have studied the cationization of polysaccharides to replace conventional cationic polyelectrolytes, linked to environmental issues. However, cationic celluloses have not achieved the success of cationic starches. The knowledge of the cellulose cationization proccess needs to be improved. In this work, we pretreat (alkalize) and cationize cotton linters and alpha-cellulose powder, using 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) in an aqueous-alcoholic alkaline solution. The pretreatment took place under different conditions, whereas the cationization itself was always performed at 70 degrees C, for a CHPTAC/AGU (anhydro glucose units) mole ratio of 4, and for a total time of 5 h for cotton linters or 100 min for alpha-cellulose powder. The degree of substitution, the crystallinity index and the temporal evolution of intrinsic viscosity are provided for the 18 experiments performed. The background was uncertain about the effect of cationization on intrinsic viscosity. Here, we report increasing viscosity with increasing degree of substitution and cationization time. Furthermore, intrinsic viscosity increased with increasing cationization time, even when the degree of substitution had leveled off. Seemingly, the incorporation of positive charges into cellulose changed the polymer distribution and the interactions between the polymer and the solvent.

• 出版日期2016-6