Synthesis and characterization of a new cellulose ether derivative: sodium levulinate cellulose

Sodium levulinate cellulose (SLC) was prepared as a new longer carbon chain analog for carboxymethyl cellulose ( CMC) in 66-94% yield using the Williamson ether synthesis reaction between sodium hydroxide treated cellulose and brominated levulinic acid in aqueous iso-propanol medium under thermal and microwave conditions. Levulinate cellulose ether produced was characterized by FT-IR, TG-DTA, X-ray and proton NMR. The thermal reactions carried out at 90 degrees C for 3 and 24 h gave SLC products with degrees of substitutions of 0.48 and 0.86, respectively, whereas the microwave synthesis product showed a degree of substitution of 0.32 as determined by ASTM D1439-03 method used for CMC. [GRAPHICS] .

Automated summary

Sodium levulinate cellulose (SLC) is prepared as a new analog of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with a longer carbon chain using the Williamson ether synthesis reaction. The SLC products were obtained with yields of 66-94% through heating and microwave conditions in aqueous iso-propanol medium. Characterization was done using FT-IR, TG-DTA, X-ray, and proton NMR techniques. The degree of substitution of SLC ranged from 0.32 to 0.86 depending on the reaction conditions.