Surface modification of cellulose with succinic anhydride in dimethyl sulfoxide using potassium carbonate as a catalyst

Nobuyuki Harada; Hiroshi Uyama

doi:10.1016/j.carres.2023.108812

Surface modification of cellulose with succinic anhydride in dimethyl sulfoxide using potassium carbonate as a catalyst

Carbohydr Res. 2023 Jun:528:108812. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2023.108812. Epub 2023 Apr 26.

Authors

Nobuyuki Harada¹, Hiroshi Uyama²

Affiliations

¹ Nippon Shokubai Research Alliance Laboratories, 2-1, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address: harada@arl.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp.
² Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address: uyama@chem.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp.

PMID: 37126971
DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2023.108812

Abstract

Cellulose succinates (CSs) having degrees of substitution (DSs) ranging from 0.78 to 2.77 were successfully obtained by reacting cellulose with succinic anhydride (SA) in dimethyl sulfoxide at room temperature using a small amount of inexpensive solid potassium carbonate as a catalyst. Interestingly, CSs with higher DS values were obtained with a much smaller amount of catalyst than previously reported. Moreover, it is possible to control the DS by tailoring the reaction time and mass ratio of cellulose/SA. The hydroxyl groups at the C-6, C-2, and C-3 positions were the main esterification positions. In this process, most of the raw materials are either incorporated into the product or are recoverable. The E-factor, which reflects the sustainability of a given process, was demonstrated to be reduced by 93% by recovering the raw materials.

Keywords: Cellulose; Dimethyl sulfoxide; E-Factor; Potassium carbonate; Succinic anhydride.

MeSH terms

Cellulose*
Dimethyl Sulfoxide
Succinates
Succinic Anhydrides*

Substances

Cellulose
succinic anhydride
Succinic Anhydrides
Dimethyl Sulfoxide
potassium carbonate
Succinates