Synthesis, Characterization, and Mesophase Formation of Phenylacetoxy Cellulose and Its Halogenated Derivatives

Abstract

A series of phenylacetoxy cellulosics with degrees of substitution (DS) between 1.4 and 3.0 and different halogenation (2-chloro, 3-chloro, 4-chloro, 2,4-dichloro, 3,4-dichloro, and 4-bromo) were synthesized. All the prepared phenylacetoxy cellulosics were soluble in dimethylformamide (DMF) and DMAc. The solubility increased with increasing DS. Mesophases were observed for all of the phenylacetoxy cellulosics with low to medium DS (DS < 2.5) in DMF and DMAc. Non- or mono-halogeneated phenylacetoxy cellulosics with high DS (DS > 1.9) were soluble in methylene chloride (CH2Cl2), whereas those with very low DS or di-halogenation on the phenyl ring were only slightly swollen or partially soluble in CH2Cl2. Non- and mono-halogenated phenylacetoxy cellulosics were soluble in DMSO and formed liquid crystals regardless of the DS, in contrast to CH2Cl2 solutions which display liquid crystalline behavior at medium to high DS (DS > 1.9) only. The solubility of the di-halogenated phenylacetoxy cellulosics in DMSO was limited to approximately 40 wt %.

Evaluation of sewage sludge-based compost by FT-IR spectroscopy

“…4) and the previously published IR spectra of sawdust, cellulose and lignin (Marchessault and Liang, 1960;Zbankov, 1964;Marchessault and Sundararajan, 1983;Tucker et al, 2001;Kacurakova et al, 2002; Prachayawarakorn and Anggulalat, 2003;Dai et al, 2004) showed a strong similarity of the main absorption bands in the 900-1740 and 2800-3000 cm À 1 regions. The absorption bands in the in 950-1200 cm À 1 region correspond to the valent C-O, C-C and deformation vibrations of ring structures of CH 2 OH origin (Zbankov, 1964).…”

“…These are characteristic bands of the input materials like wood, fruits, grass, and other plants Marchessault and Liang, 1960;Tucker et al, 2001;Dai et al, 2004Dai et al, 1540Dai et al, -1580 Amide II A band of protein origin. The band is found in nitrogen-rich composts but not found in composted sewage sludge samples Bellamy, 1975;Smidt et al, 1510Smidt et al, , 1460Smidt et al, , 1420 Stem from waste components containing lignin…”

Acetylation of cellulose using recyclable polymeric catalysts

“…Although unconventional methods such as in situ activation and/or “catalyst‐free” syntheses have been developed for cellulose esterifications,11, 17–20 many preparation approaches still use acid chlorides as esterification agents,3, 11, 17 and acid scavengers such as pyridine or triethylamine (TEA) as catalysts to facilitate the reactions. However, both pyridine and TEA are toxic and odorous, and they can adversely affect the yield and quality of the final products 17…”