TEMPERATURE, SALT AND ACIDITY EFFECTS ON THE HYDROLYSIS OF CELLULOSE DISSOLVED IN CONCENTRATED ACIDS

Viscosimetric measurements confirmed that the degradation of cellulose dissolved in concentrated acids is a first order random process. Vari ations of the acidity by adding HCl or H2SO4 to the solvent 65% H3PO4 resulted in kinetic data supporting the established A-1 mechanism for the hydrolysis of cellulose. Salt effects were determined and energies of activation for phosphoric acid of different concentration and modi fication and for 65% sulfuric acid as solvents. The promotion of cellu lose degradation by HCl or H2SO4 in H3PO4 or by increasing concentrati on of H3PO4 is reflected in decreasing energies of activation.