Derivative infrared spectroscopy of cotton cellulose

Abstract

AbstractA new technique of derivative infrared spectroscopy for the study of polymer structure with special reference to cotton cellulose is described. Absorption spectra of cotton cellulose are compared with second deravative spectra. In case of absorption spectra, while determining the wavelength and intensity of a given absorption, in many cases, difficulties arise due to the presence of an interfering band which, as a consequence of overlap, prevents the determination of the above properties. Derivative spectroscopy provides valuable information on structural properties of cellulose. It yields spectra gradient, which facilitates the separation of overlapping absorption bands to resolve and detect absorptions; neither were unresolvable as a consequence either of multiple bands overlap or of low intensity. Hence, the measured wavelength in the second derivative spectra are more precise than the absorption spectra. For fine structural studies of cellulose, derivative spectra may provide more useful information as the absorption bands are more clearly defined.