Structural change in mercerized cotton fibers on cellulase treatment

Cotton fibers treated with liquid ammonia and sodium hydroxide were hydroly zed with crude cellulase. The structural change in the fibers due to the ce llulase treatment was examined in relation to the apparent affinity of Cong o Red. The cellulose III crystalline structure collapsed and generated inte rmediate-molecular-ordered regions on cellulase treatment. Adsorption of Co ngo Red occurred on the crystallite surfaces of cellulose II and cellulose III that was transformed from cellulose II. The fiber, the dominant crystal lite phase of which was cellulose III that was transformed from cellulose I I, had a considerably increased apparent affinity after cellulase treatment . The intermediate structure on the crystallite surface was associated with the adsorption of Congo Red in the cases of cellulose II and cellulose III . (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 1675-1680, 2001.