title: Acid hydrolysis of cellulosic fibres: Comparison of bleached kraft pulp, dissolving pulps and cotton textile cellulose.
abstract: The behaviour of different cellulosic fibres during acid hydrolysis has been investigated and the levelling-off degree of polymerisation (LODP) has been determined. The study included a bleached kraft pulp (both never-dried and once-dried) and two dissolving pulps (once-dried). Additionally, cotton cellulose from new cotton sheets and sheets discarded after long-time use was studied. Experimental results from the investigation, together with results found in literature, imply that ultrastructural differences between different fibres affect their susceptibility towards acid hydrolysis. Drying of a bleached kraft pulp was found to enhance the rate of acid hydrolysis and also result in a decrease in LODP. This implies that the susceptibility of cellulosic fibres towards acid hydrolysis is affected by drying-induced stresses in the cellulose chains. In cotton cellulose, it was found that use and laundering gave a substantial loss in the degree of polymerisation (DP), but that the LODP was only marginally affected.
authors.affiliation: Division of Forest Products and Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: anna.palme@chalmers.se.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palme
authors.affiliation: Division of Forest Products and Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Theliander
authors.affiliation: Södra Innovation, SE-432 86 Väröbacka, Sweden. Electronic address: harald.brelid@sodra.com.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brelid
mesh_terms: D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010209:Paper; D058105:Polymerization
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose; D002480:Cellulase
keywords: Acid hydrolysis; Cotton; Dissolving pulp; Hornification; Kraft pulp; LODP