ACETYLATION AND CARBOXYMETHYLATION OF WOOD, BAGASSE AND RICE STRAW PULPS

In partial acetylation, wood pulp was the most reactive pulp followed by bagasse and rice straw pulp. All pulps show a decrease in water ret ention value. Water absorbance of the paper sheets obtained from the m odified pulps behave more or less similar upon increasing acetyl conte nt. In the case of partial carboxymethylation, rice straw pulp is the most reactive and bagasse pulp the least reactive while wood pulp is i n between. Paper sheets made from carboxymethylated pulps show increas e in water absorbance with increase of degree of substitution. The inc rease is significant in wood and bagasse pulps but less remarkable in rice straw pulp. This is attributed to the already high hydrophilic na ture of the original unmodified rice straw pulp. The strength properti es however showed much deterioration under the reaction conditions use d.