A New Approach in the Analysis of the Substituent Distribution of Carboxymethyl Celluloses

An approach is presented for the quantitative analysis of the substituent distribution in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Standard substances have been isolated by preparative HPLC and characterised by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The availability of these reference substances enabled a quantitative HPLC determination of glucose and its seven carboxymethyl derivatives by anion exchange chromatography and pulsed amperometric detection. A comparison of sulphuric acid and perchloric acid hydrolysis for conventional CMC samples gave higher yields for perchloric acid. The yield of the eight CMC building units decreased with increasing DS for both hydrolysis methods. Results were different, when samples from new synthesis concepts were investigated. While CMCs from induced phase separation showed increasing hydrolysis yields up to a DS of 1.9 regioselectively substituted 2,3-O-CMC gave lower yields with increasing DS. For 2,3-O-CMC samples sulphuric acid proved to be the superior hydrolysis medium.