The acid‐catalyzed degradation of cellulose linters in distinct ranges of degree of polymerization

Cellulose linters with starting degrees of polymerization between 100 < DPn < 6000 had been hydrolytically degraded (0.5 M aqueous solution of KHSO4, degradation temperature 40°C and 60°C) and the results compared with those obtained in a former study on pure cotton cellulose using the same degradation conditions. A complete coincidence in the degradation characteristics of both is shown, distinguishing the latter one by the following features: (1) different kinetic behavior according to the molecular weight range in which degradation takes place; (2) those corresponding to the very high as well as to the very low range of DP reveal a notable decrease of reaction rate; (3) a simultaneous systematic decrease of derivatization capacity occurs in the low molecular weight range; (4) There is no systematic increase of soluble material in the acidic medium with degradation time; (5) in the low molecular weight range, the polidispersity index derived from the molecular weight distributions remains near DPw/DPn = 2.0, except when the hydrolysis had been carried out on already technologically digested materials, causing in these cases a certain increase. The possible reasons for the distinct features of degradation behavior are discussed.