Effects of alkalinity on endwise depolymerization of hydrocellulose

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1979

Department

College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

Abstract

The role of hydroxyl ion concentration in the endwise depolymerization of hydrocellulose has been investigated in sodium hydroxide solution (0.05–18.6N) at 120°C, by determining the amount of degradation and the changes of carboxyl content and degree of polymerization in the solid phase. The extent of degradation increases with the base concentration up to about 6N and then sharply decreases thereafter. These data are discussed in terms of altering the accessibility and the relative rates of peeling and stopping reactions in varying concentrations of alkali.

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

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