Fractionation of Cellulose Acetate and Distribution of Non-Cellulosic Components between the Fractions

Abstract

Abstract 1. Three cellulose acetates from cotton linters, Kayaceta and a domestic pulp were fractionally precipitated from acetone solution with ethanol, and viscosity measurements in acetone solution and pentosan determinations by paper chromatography of the individual fractions were made. 2. Another acetate from Rayaceta was again fractionated into five fractions and viscosities in acetone and cupriethylene diamine solution and pentosan contents of the individual fractions were determined. 3. The results showed a close relationship between the initial acetone-insoluble fractions or in acetone haze-producing fractions and their pentosan content. These fractions include abnormal materials which show low viscosity (probably low D. P.) in cupriethylene diamine solution as well as in acetone. They are in-cluded much in the acetates from wood pulps. 4. It could not be decided whether these acetone-insoluble fractions were due to association by salt bridge effect of calcium ions between carboxyl or sulfuric half-ester groups, or due to the remaining structure of wood tissues. 5. The chain-length distributions of the cellulose acetates from wood pulp seem to be more heterogeneous than those from cotton linters.