1.Noviant AB,Skoghall,Sweden;2.Department of Chemical Engineering,Karlstad University,Karlstad,Sweden
Abstract:
Controlling the reduction in molecular weight of the cellulose chains is essential in the production of carboxymethyl cellulose
(CMC). Such a reduction can be achieved by the addition of cobalt during the process of cobalt(II) ions, which act as a catalyst
for oxidative cleavage, and the influence thereof has been studied under a variety of conditions. This study has resulted
in a model that summarises the effects of the added amount of cobalt, the time for the cobalt reaction, the temperature in
the mercerisation stage of the CMC-manufacturing process and finally the effect of the temperature in the etherification stage.
It is shown that it is important for cobalt to be present during the mercerisation stage in order to achieve the desired viscosity.