Characteristics of water-soluble fiber manufactured from carboxymethylcellulose synthesis

Abstract

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), which is water-soluble fiber at room temperature, was manufactured from cellulose in this study. Experimental parameters included reaction temperature, time, concentration of NaOH, and monochloroacetic acid. In mercerization and etherification, the solubility and DS increased when NaOH (or MCA) concentration increased, and maximum solubility and DS were achieved when NaOH or MCA was 30%. The effect of MCA concentrations was larger than that of the NaOH concentration on DS. Tensile strength of the CMC fiber was affected and decreased by an increase in reaction time, reagent concentration and reaction temperature increase. Tensile strength also decreased by NaOH and MCA. However, low decrease of tensile strength was observed in near neutral region.