DIELECTRIC ABSORPTION AND MOLECULAR MECHA NISMS OF THE INITIAL-STAGESOF CELLULOSE DISSOLUTION IN N-METHYLMORPHOLINE N-OXIDE

Interaction between cellulose and N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (MMO) was examined as a function of the system prehistory using dielectric spec troscopy. It was demonstrated that, initially, the dissolution of cell ulose in MMO was decidedly controlled by the interaction between prima ry hydroxyls of the cellulose and the molecules of MMO, which resulted in complex formation. This inference was supported by the studies wit h a model system comprising triphenylmethyl cellulose doped with MMO a nd the system comprising cellulose, dimethylformamide, and LiCl. Durin g solid-phase blending of cellulose with MMO achieved by shearing, com plex formation between MMO and secondary hydroxy groups of cellulose ( in addition to that involving primary hydroxyls) was shown to be possi ble.