Optimization of Reaction Conditions for PreparingCarboxymethyl Cellulose from Doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) leaves

Abstract

In the present study, the synthesis of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) from Doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) leaves as a new source of cellulose was optimized and the produced CMC at optimum conditions was characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR and TGA. Different solvent mixtures (Ethanol:isopropanol), varying temperatures and reaction time as well as different amounts of monochloro acetic acid (MCAA) were applied. The results showed that the highest degree of substitution (DS) was 1.16. This value was obtained under the following reaction conditions: solvent mixture of (1:1), reaction temperature of 65 ºC, reaction time of 3 hours and MCAA to celluloseratio of 1:4.5 (moles). The produced CMC (DS1.16) has a creamy color and high water solubility (92%). The FTIR results confirmed the formation of CMC by the presence of carbonyl absorption peak at 1734 cm-1ofcarboxymethyl substituent. The TGA results showed that CMC is less thermally stable compared to purified cellulose.