Synthesis and studies on cellulose acetate—phenol formaldehyde cationic resin

Samples of a cationic sulphonated resin have been prepared by sulphonation of a mixture of phenol with cellulose acetate in the presence of paraformaldehyde as a crosslinking agent. The samples having average swelling percentage of 123, and a cation exchange capacity of 2.6 meq g−1 resin, are being introduced as a new catalyst in the hydrolysis of ethyl acetate ester. The synthesized cation exchanger shows a good thermal and chemical stability. Hydrolysis rate constants (kr values) for the catalysed reaction have been determined. The calculated values of the Arrhenius activation parameters show the overall slowness of the hydrolysis reaction accompanying the formation of the rigid activated complex.