6—KINETICS OF FIBROUS ACETYLATION OF COTTON AND JUTE

Abstract

Rates of acetylation of cotton and jute have been studied under various conditions of concentration, temperature of the acetylating liquor and initial moisture regain of the samples. The results have been interpreted in the light of the current theories of diffusion without reaction. The evidence suggests two different mechanisms of penetration of reacting molecules for cotton and jute, according to which the penetrant molecules exchange places with the fibre molecules in cotton, while they migrate into the vacant sites already available for them in jute. The activation energies of acetylation have been calculated, and the difference between the values for cotton and jute has been ascribed to the energy expended in cotton for accommodating the acetyl groups.