Reaction efficiency for cellulose cationization using 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride

A major cost factor of cationizing cellulose with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHTAC) is the reaction efficiency, which is less than perfect due to a competing hydrolysis reaction. The efficiency of the cationization reaction sequence is analyzed in terms of chemical kinetics, and experimental results are presented for several reaction methods including pad-batch, pad-steam, pad-dry-steam, exhaust, and pad-dry-cure. The effects of CHTAC and alkali concentrations, additives to the treatment bath, pretreatments, time, temperature, reaction method, and sequence of events are investigated in terms of percent fixation of CHTAC. In addition, data are presented for the reaction in non-aqueous solvents.