Hydrolysis of Sulphate Acid Ester in Unstabilized Cellulose Nitrates

Abstract

The rate of hydrolysis of the sulphate acid ester in unstabilized cellulose nitrates in acetone/ water solution a t 25' C. has been studied. The rate of hydrolysis in 90% acetone/water was too slo\\l to produce a measurable increase in acidity during 24 hours. In 99% acetone/water solution the initial hydrolysis was \:cry rapid and was followed by slower hydrolysis which was complete after 24 hours. Si~nilar results were obtained with wood cellulose nitrates.In the case of cotton cellulose nitrates, there was an indication that hydrolysis of the sulphate acid ester decreased as the nitrogen content increased. The rate of hydrolysis of the sulphate acid ester in both cotton and wood cellulose nitrates was \-ery similar to that of the sulphate acid ester in cellulose acetate sulphate.

17. Derivatives of Cellulose

“…In the laboratory stabilization is performed with boiling water or methanol (Gagnon et al 1961;Philipp, Linow 1965). From the thermal degradation of stabilized cellulose nitrate Millett et al (1961) calculated its activation energy as 157.4 kJ/mole.…”