DEGRADATION OF CELLULOSE AT THE WET DRY INTERFACE .2. AN APPROACH TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE OXIDATION COMPOUNDS/

Results from a study of the degradation products formed by the oxidati on at the wet/dry interface of pure cellulose Whatman filter paper no. 5 are presented. Analysis techniques were thin layer chromatography ( TLC) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatogr aphy coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Their advantages and drawba cks in identifying the degradation compounds of the wet/dry interface are discussed. IR spectra showed the presence of carbonyl groups from aldehydes and ketones of polar and mildly polar compounds and the pres ence of ethylenic links of less polar compounds. The presence of conju gated systems could explain the brown color observed. TLC and GC/MS co uld identify sugars and uronic acids in the degradation products extra cted from the cellulose. Their formation from the cellulose chain is e xplained.