Possibilities of nitric acid preparation of powder cellulose forms

For preparation of various modified forms of microcrystalline cellulose, an optional combination is proposed of hydrolytic activity with other properties of nitric acid such as, adduct forming ability (manifested as Knecht compound formation), oxidizing, bleaching and nitrating. The manifestation of a chosen acid function is reached by variation of the reaction conditions: concentration, temperature, time, etc. The sole-reagent continuous procedure involving several operations made in a predetermined sequence allows the use of a more simple technological scheme and saves energy, time and materials. The features of transformation of fibrous and microcrystalline forms of native cellulose into cellulose-II through the Knecht compound are discussed. Purely acidic transformation schemes of native cellulose into microcrystalline cellulose hydrate and amorphous low-nitrate powder cellulose according to the above scheme are considered. Morphological features as well as distinguishing properties — enhanced hydrophilicity, sorption activity and degree of whiteness — of the prepared materials are pointed out. The possibility of obtaining uniformly oxidized forms of powder cellulose according to this scheme and the outlook for the use of nitrogen(IV) oxide as a multifunctional reagent are discussed.     

Preparations of regioselectively methylated cellulose acetates and their 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic analyses

Seven possible regioselectively methylated cellulose acetates (RS‐MCAs)—2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 3,6‐di‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 2,6‐di‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 2,3‐di‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 6‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, 3‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate, and 2‐O‐methyl cellulose acetate—were prepared for the first time from chemically synthesized cellulose derivatives obtained by cationic ring‐opening polymerization and then were analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The chemical shifts of ring protons and carbons were influenced by substituent groups (methyl or acetyl) and clearly reflected the pattern of substituent distribution in anhydroglucose units. These data may conveniently be used for the determination of the substituent distribution of methyl cellulose. The synthesized RS‐MCAs also may be used for the elucidation of the structure–property relationship. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4167–4179, 2002     

Prediction of paper permanence by accelerated aging II. Comparison of the predictions with natural aging results

Accelerated aging tests are credible and useful to predict paper permanence only if such tests can be shown to correlate with natural aging. In the first part of this study, a kinetic model was developed based on the accelerated aging results. In this report, we have shown that this kinetic model can indeed predict the natural aging results of lignin-free sheets with a statistical confidence. This is the first quantitative comparison of accelerated aging with natural aging.     

A study for quality evaluation of Taxilli Herba from different hosts based on fingerprint-activity relationship modeling and multivariate statistical analysis

In this study, a fingerprint-activity relationship modeling between chemical fingerprints and antirheumatic activity was established, and multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of Taxilli Herba (TH) from different hosts. Characteristic fingerprints of 20 batches of TH samples were generated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS), and the similarity analysis was calculated based on thirteen common characteristic peaks by hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Subsequently, nine efficacy markers were discovered by combining fingerprints and antirheumatic activity through grey correlation analysis (GCA) and bivariate correlation analysis (BCA). Meanwhile, the content of 5 constituents in 9 markers was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS). The comprehensive quality of TH was assessed using multivariate statistical analysis, including principal components analysis (PCA) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results showed that a high dose of TH extract could markedly ameliorate arthritis damage compared to other doses, with flavonoids playing an important role in the antirheumatic activity. The comprehensive quality of samples from Morus alba L. (SS) was superior to those from Liquidambar formosana Hance (FXS). The present study will demonstrate the markers associated with efficacy, and provide an applicable strategy for more comprehensive quality control and evaluation of TH.     

Pretreatment studies of cellulose wastes for optimization of cellulase enzyme activity

The composition of cellulose, hemicellulose, starch, lignin, pectin, protein, and total lipid content in the selected cellulosic wastes-tapioca (Manihot esculenta) stem, leaf, petiole, and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) were determined. The effectiveness of various physical and chemical pretreatments on the enzymatic digestibility of these wastes were identified. In general, chemical pretreatments were more effective than physical pretreatments. The efficiency of the pretreatment was checked by subjecting these wastes to enzymatic saccharification after the pretreatments.     

Interfacial activity of a novel family of polymeric surfactants

A novel series of polymeric surfactants based on carboxy methyl cellulose and alkyl poly(etheroxy) acrylate were synthesized by ultrasonic irradiation. These polymeric surfactants have exhibit excellent surface activity due to their unique structure. The influences of salt, alcohol and alkali on the interfacial activity of these polymeric surfactants were studied by interfacial tensiometery, dynamic laser scattering (DLS), UV spectroscope and environmental scanning electrical microscope (ESEM). The surface tension and interfacial tension (IFT) properties change little with NaCl added. The formed micelles shrink, their size becomes smaller. Alcohols cause the IFT to decrease a little because a small amount of free chains present in solution. Under the influence of added alkali, the IFT of the polymeric surfactants, in aqueous solution, decreases so much that sometimes it is less than 10⁻² mN/m. Using data from the equivalent alkane scan, one cannot draw the conclusion that the action of alkali with the acidic components in crude oil leads to the ultra-low IFT. The analyses by UV, DLS and ESEM show that the micelles formed by polymeric surfactants could be disaggregated or destroyed sharply by the action of alkali. So the size of micelles decreases greatly and the number of free chains increases. That more polymeric surfactants molecules move to the interface of oil/water and rearrange at the interface of oil/water is believed to be the main reason of the ultra-low IFT (10⁻³ mN/m) that is obtained.     

镧、钕柠檬酸配合物对纤维素酶活性的影响及其机制的探讨

研究了不同稀土浓度的镧、钕柠檬酸配合物溶液对纤维素酶水解不同纤维素底物的活性的影响规律，并对其作用机制进行了分析：用沉淀法分别合成了镧、钕柠檬酸配合物；用EDTA络合滴定法分析了镧、钕在配合物中的含量；用红外光谱法对镧、钕柠檬酸配合物进行了表征；用DNS试剂法测定了不同稀土浓度的镧、钕柠檬酸配合物溶液对纤维素酶水解不同纤维素底物的酶活性。结果表明：柠檬酸中羧基脱去质子后与镧、钕离子配位，在合适浓度时，两个配合物对纤维素酶水解滤纸、羧甲基纤维素钠、纤维二糖的活性均有最大的激活作用，钕配合物的激活效果好于镧配合物。     

Structure and microporous formation of cellulose/silk fibroin blend membranes: Part II. Effect of post-treatment by alkali

Blend membranes (RCF1) were prepared from mixture solution of cellulose and silk fibroin (SF) in cuoxam by coagulating with acetone–acetic acid (4:1 by volume). The blend membranes were subjected to post-treatment with 10% NaOH aqueous solution, and their structure and properties were characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, DSC, SEM and DMTA. In previous work, cellulose/SF blend membranes (RCF2) prepared by coagulating with 10% NaOH aqueous solution formed a microporous structure, in which the SF as a pore former was almost completely removed from the membrane. However, when the blend membranes RCF1 were immersed in 10% NaOH aqueous solution for post-treatment, a strong hydrogen bonding between cellulose and SF inhibited the removal of SF. Although alkali is a good solvent for SF, the blend membranes RCF1 such obtained from cellulose and SF were alkali resistant. The crystallinity and the mean pore size of the blend membranes slightly decreased with increasing post-treatment time. This work provided a cellulose/silk blend membrane, which can be used under alkaline medium.     

Synchrotron X-ray structures of cellulose I<Subscript>β</Subscript> and regenerated cellulose II at ambient temperature and 100 K

Synchrotron X-ray data have been collected to 1.4 Å resolution at the NE-CAT beam-line at the Advanced Photon Source from fibers of cellulose I_β and regenerated cellulose II (Fortisan) at ambient temperature and at 100 K in order to understand the effects of low temperature on cellulose more thoroughly. Crystal structures have been determined at each temperature. The unit cell of regenerated cellulose II contracted, with decreasing temperature, by 0.25%, 0.22% and 0.1% along the a, b, and c axes, respectively, whereas that of cellulose I_β contracted only in the direction of the a axis, by 0.9%. The value of 4.6×10^?5 K^?1 for the thermal expansion coefficient of cellulose I_β in the a axis direction can be explained by simple harmonic molecular oscillations and the lack of hydrogen-bonding in this direction. The molecular conformations of each allomorph are essential unchanged by cooling to 100 K. The room temperature crystal structure of regenerated cellulose II is essentially identical to the crystal structure of mercerized cellulose II.     

Effect of surface attachment on synthesis of bacterial cellulose

Gluconacetobacter spp. synthesize a pure form of hydrophilic cellulose that has several industrial specialty applications. Literature reports have concentrated on intensive investigation of static and agitated culture in liquid media containing high nutrient concentrations optimized for maximal cellulose production rates. The behavior of these bacteria on semisolid and solid surfaces has not been specifically addressed. The species Gluconacetobacter hansenii was examined for cellulose synthesis and colony morphology on a range of solid supports, including cotton linters, and on media thickened with agar, methyl cellulose, or gellan. The concentration and chemical structure of the thickening agent were found to be directly related to the formation of contiguous cellulose pellicules. Viability of the bacteria following freezer storage was improved when the bacteria were frozen in their cellulose pellicules. This article was authored by a contractor of the US government under contract no. DEAC05-00OR22725. Accordingly, the US government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes.