CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF BEECHWOOD XYLAN WITH P-CARBOXYBENZYL BROMIDE

Xylan isolated from beechwood was alkylated with p-carboxybenzyl bromi de in aqueous alkali. The alkylation by varying stochiometry and react ion temperature yielded carboxybenzylated xylan derivatives with a deg ree of substitution which ranged from 0.05 to 0.25. The reaction produ cts were characterized by elementary analysis and FTIR and UV spectros copy. As tested by HPGPC, no degradation of the xylan chains resulted up to a reaction temperature of 40 degrees C. The derivatives show mod erate surface activity. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.