SODIUM CELLULOSE FORMATION BY ACTIVATION PROCESS

The formation of sodium cellulose is the first reaction step in some large scale derivatization process of cellulose, e.g., xantation or carboxymethylation, as well as in the mercerization of cotton. It was found that the sodium cellulose formation depends on some activators present in the steeping lye, as well as on the press ratio, steeping temperature, and steeping ley concentration. IR data and X‐ray scattering showed that the initial native cellulose was converted into an unoriented cellulose II in the lower concentration of steeping ley with presence of urea, thiourea, and sodium aluminate or zincate as activators. The sodium cellulose formed with activators was more reactive to xanthation than the cellulose from unactivated process. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.