Synthesis and application of carboxymethyl cellulose from Gliricidia sepium and Cola gigantea

Abstract

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was prepared from Gliricidia sepium and Cola gigantea cellulose with yields of 1.59 g/g and 1.76 g/g, respectively. The pH of the products were weakly acidic (6.47 and 6.54, respectively). The sodium chloride content was 0.22 for C. gigantea CMC and 0.27 for G. sepium CMC, while the degree of substitution was 0.46 and 0.51, respectively. The swelling capacity of G. sepium CMC was 802%, which was higher than the 519% of C gigantea CMC. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that the products were CMC, and a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed that C. gigantea CMC was more stable than G. sepium CMC. Detergent fortified with G. sepium CMC had better performance than C. gigantea CMC in terms of cleaning action and emulsion index, and it competed favorably with a detergent fortified with commercial grade CMC.