Esterification of cellulose isolated from black poplar (Populus nigra L.) sawdust with octanoyl chloride

Abstract

In this study, cellulose was isolated from black poplar (Populus nigra L.) sawdust, which is produced by forest industrial processes in large amounts as lignocellulosic waste. Isolated cellulose was then esterified with different concentrations of octanoyl chloride (36–162 mmol, 2–9 equivalent per anhydroglucose unit in cellulose), and the obtained derivatives were characterized in terms of elemental analysis, percent yield, degree of substitution (DS), and solubility. DS values of cellulose derivatives ranged from 1.13 to 2.71, while percent yields varied between 56.36% and 93.23%. Solubility analysis revealed that esterification improved the hydrophobic capacity of cellulose. The findings of the study showed that the produced cellulose derivatives might be appropriate for the production of biodegradable and environmentally degradable plastics, resins, films, and coatings for use in some industrial areas such as in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords

• cellulose
• esterification
• elemental analysis
• degree of substitution
• percent yield
• solubility
• selüloz
• esterlenme
• elementel analiz
• sübstitüsyon derecesi
• yüzde verim
• çözünürlük