Cellulase Dissolution: Electron Microscopic Technique for the Study of Chemically Modified Cotton

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"="">Cross-sections of some ethers and esters of cotton cellulose at different degrees of substitution were examined electron microscopically by the cellulase dissolution technique. The results have confirmed that this technique has many advantages over the conventional cuene dissolution technique and can be used effectively as a microsolubility test for examining a wide range of chemically modified cottons. The cellulase of <i>Penicillium funiculosum </i>acts exclusively on the unreacted cellulose of the modified cotton and unlike cuene does not distort the ultra structural morphology of the cross-section. This technique also enables quick evaluation of cotton modified for mildew and rot resistance.</span>