Optimization of sugarcane bagasse cellulose acetylation

In this work we performed an optimization process of the acetylation reaction of sugarcane bagasse cellulose. The optimization was carried out varying acetic acid, acetic anhydride and catalyst volume, as well as reaction and activation times. Intrinsic viscosity was used as parameter for determining the quality of the produced material. Cellulose acetate viscosity-average molecular weight increased from 5.5 x 10(3) to 55.5 x 10(3) g mol(-1). (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.