Water Soluble Cellulose Acetate and Its Application

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;="" mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">Qualitative filter grade cellulose was acetylated using acetic anhydride and sulphuric acid, and the product was hydrolysed with dilute acetic acid using sulphuric acid or sodium acetate as the catalyst for hydrolysis. The acetyl content decreased continuously on increasing the duration of hydrolysis with sulphuric acid as the catalyst. The product was initially soluble in acetone, the solubility decreasing with decrease in acetyl content, and the product finally becoming insoluble. However, with acetyl content in the range 18-20% the product became water soluble. On increasing the temperature of hydrolysis, the rate of hydrolysis increased. The system with sodium acetate as the catalyst for hydrolysis showed the same trend. However, the water soluble product could not be obtained with sodium acetate as the catalyst. The water soluble product was evaluated for application as a size for cotton yarns and the results were compared with those for starch and polyvinyl alcohol In general, water-soluble cellulose acetate had tensile and flex abrasion properties intermediate between those of starch and polyvinyl alcohol However, its ease of removal by water treatment is highest of the three sizes.</span>