Abstract

Synthesis and Grafting of Carboxymethyl Cellulose from Environmental Pollutant Cellulosic Wastes of Textile Industry

Author(s): Mondal MdIH, Ahmed F and Fakrul Alam ABM

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), was synthesized from cellulosic rag, a textile waste of textile and garment industries in aqueous ethanolic sodium hydroxide and subsequently mono-chloroacetic acid reaction medium. Low substituted to high substituted products were obtained from single step to seven step carboxymethylation of cellulose. In this way, it was possible to produce low cost and different grades of substituted carboxymethylated cellulose. The synthesized CMC was characterized and their physical properties were investigated. Solubility, CMC content, degree of substitution and molecular weight of CMC were increased gradually with the increase of the number of reaction steps, although fourth step attained the optimum. The degrees of substitution of CMC from one to seven reaction steps were 0.90 to 2.84, respectively. Similarly, CMC content and molecular weight of CMC were 72.60% to 85.00% and 153,886 to 252,231, respectively. The structure of CMC and grafted CMC were investigated by FTIR, 13C NMR and SEM. The prepared CMC was applied as a sizing agent to develop the physico-chemical characteristics of fabric and yarn as well. Grafting of prepared CMC film with methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer increased their strength 86.11%, although decreased rigidity and moisture content due to the incorporation of hydrophobic MMA monomer was observed.