Study of the effect of γ-irradiation of industrial grade cellulose on the products of its esterification

Treatment of cellulose with ionizing radiation (γ-rays, accelerated electrons) provides the possibility to reduce its molecular weight, change the molecular weight distribution, increase the esterification reactivity and affect other physical and chemical characteristics. The acquired properties, in turn, make it possible to obtain then esters with the desired characteristics. We present the results of studying the effect of γ-irradiation of industrial grades of cellulose on the esterification products, i.e., lacquer colloxylins and xanthogenates. It is found that γ-irradiation at a dose of 3 - 5 kGy prior to mercerization leads to an increase in the reactivity of the polymer in the reaction of xanthogenation by more than 30%. Nitro derivatives corresponding to the technical characteristics (conditional viscosity and nitrogen content) of colloxylins of different grades were obtained by irradiation at a dose of 20 and 30 kGy. It is shown that the stages of prehydrolysis and reduction of nitrocellulose viscosity during its treatment in autoclaves can be excluded when producing colloxylins. It appeared possible to reduce significantly the consumption of carbon disulfide in the technology of xanthocarbon production. The results obtained can be used in developing optimal modes and performance criteria for radiation pretreatment of cellulose of different grades during nitration and xanthogenation proceeding from changes in their physical and chemical properties upon γ-irradiation.

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