Alkaliselluloosa

Alkaliselluloosa, also known as alkali cellulose, is a chemical intermediate produced by treating cellulose with a concentrated alkali solution, typically sodium hydroxide. This process, known as mercerization when applied to cotton, swells the cellulose fibers and breaks some of the hydrogen bonds within the cellulose structure. This results in a more amorphous and reactive form of cellulose.

The primary purpose of creating alkaliselluloosa is to facilitate further chemical modifications of cellulose. The alkali treatment makes the hydroxyl groups on the glucose units of cellulose more accessible, enabling reactions like etherification and esterification. This increased reactivity is crucial for the production of various cellulose derivatives.

One of the most significant applications of alkaliselluloosa is in the manufacture of regenerated cellulose fibers, such as viscose rayon and cellophane. In the viscose process, alkaliselluloosa is treated with carbon disulfide to form cellulose xanthate, which is then dissolved in a dilute alkali solution to create a viscous liquid called viscose. This viscose solution is then extruded through spinnerets into an acid bath to regenerate the cellulose as fibers.

Alkaliselluloosa is also a key intermediate in the production of other cellulose ethers, like carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), which find widespread use as thickeners, stabilizers, and binders in industries ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to textiles and construction. The preparation of alkaliselluloosa is a fundamental step in unlocking the chemical versatility of cellulose.