Effect of quaternary ammonium substitution of hydroxyethylcellulose on binding of dodecyl sulfate

The binding behavior of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to quater‐nary ammonium substituted hydroxyethylcellulose (cationic cellu‐lose) of varying degree of substitution was studied by the following measurements: binding isotherms of SDS to cationic cellulose, dye solubilization of the cationic cellulose/SDS complex, partial molal volume of each cationic cellulose, and spin‐lattice relaxation time of SDS protons in the course of binding. Binding isotherms showed features similar to that observed for the globular protein/SDS system. The molecular processes of complex formation between cationic cellulose and SDS is discussed based on these results.