Action of Oxidizing Agents on Cellulose and Hydrocellulose

Abstract

Changes in the properties of cellulose during progressive hydrolysis by dilute sulfuric acid have been studied by measuring the changes in oxidative susceptibility, density, moisture regain, and DP. It is shown that hydrolysis decreases oxidative susceptibility, moisture regain, and DP but the density progressively increases and reaches a constant value at more or less the stage at which DP, moisture regain, and oxygen consumption reach a constant value. From a study of the chemical properties of the products of oxidation of cellulose and the various hydrocelluloses it is shown 'that the mechanism of oxidation, in spite of the changes indicated above, remains the same in both cases.