A study of the fluorescence of cellulosic polymers

Abstract

A spectrophotofluorometer, suitably modified for use with plastics films, was used to study a series of cellulosic polymer films. The chemical structure of the films was found to be related to the wavelength and intensity of the fluorescence emission spectra. Saturated aliphatic esters and ethers were found to possess strong fluorescence maxima at about 350 mμ. Cellulose nitrate exhibits very weak fluorescence at 310 mμ, and a moderate fluorescence maximum appears at 440 mμ for cellulose derivatives containing double bonds or carboxyl groups. A series of experiments is described in which the modification of chemical structure was followed by measuring changes in fluorescence spectra.

Direct Determination of Inhibitors in Polymers by Luminescence Techniques.

“…The method eliminates the distillation procedure used in all modifications of Zeisel's determination and enables quantitative estimation of alkoxyl groups having four to 26 carbons. THE NUMEROUS MODIFICATIONS of the classical Zeisel's method (IS) for the facile determination of the alkoxyl group are restricted to methoxyl and ethoxyl (1,10). The determination of propoxyl and butoxyl involves further modifications of the apparatus and longer procedures (5).…”

“…There is little information in the literature on the quantitative aspects of the direct examination of polymer films by luminescence techniques. Plitt and Toner (10) have surveyed the literature covering the fluorescence of fibers, rubber, cellulose, polymers, and plastics. They emphasize that the studies reported to date were frequently based on subjective observations of fluorescence in which a broad spectrum of ultraviolet activating energy was used.…”

“…They emphasize that the studies reported to date were frequently based on subjective observations of fluorescence in which a broad spectrum of ultraviolet activating energy was used. Plitt and Toner (10) used an Aminco-Bowman instrument and were among the first to capitalize on the selectivity provided by an excitation monochromator in the study of cellulosic polymers.…”

Fluorometric Analysis

“…The fluorescence of 14 polymer types such as polyethylene and poly (phenylacetylene) has been described by Gaehkovskil (166), who suggests its use in molecular weight determinations. Changes in the fluorescence spectra of a variety of cellulosic polymers were correlated with modifications in the chemical structure (384). The effect of styrene monomer on the fluorescence of polystyrene has been measured (32), and a fluorescence polarization method has been used to study the internal structure of dye-labeled polymers in solution (235,353).…”

Quantifying Synergy, Thermostability, and Targeting of Cellulolytic Enzymes and Cellulosomes with Polymerization-Based Amplification

“…21,22 Novel glucose detection techniques also use fluorescent dyes for readout. 20,23−25 However, both cellulose and lignin exhibit autofluorescence, 26,27 a property that was previously used to map changes in cellulose and lignin content and their spatial distribution during biomass pretreatment 28 and to track changes in biomass structure along with localization of cellulolytic enzymes in real time. 6 As we show in this work, the intrinsic fluorescence of biomass can also be exploited to eliminate the need for dyes and labels in cellulolytic assays altogether.…”