| Abstract: | The molecular weight distribution in various celluloses degraded with hydrochloric acid has been studied by gel-permeation chromatography. Measurements were made on the residue after hydrolysis, on the degradation products solubilized by the acid, and on whole degraded samples comprising the product soluble in the acid plus the residue. It is shown that the total number of crystallites decreases during hydrolysis while the chain length distribution remains constant. The crystallites are gradually broken down into molecular fragments which show a size distribution centered on species with a degree of polymerization of about 8. Possible interpretations of these results are discussed. |
