Molecular Characterization of Three Cotton Varieties

Abstract

Cotton fiber cellulose was dissolved in the solvent dimethyl acetamide with lithium chloride without cleanup or formation of derivatives. Molecular weight distributions of cotton fiber samples were obtained by gel permeation chromatography using com mercially available instrumentation. Upland cotton fiber samples from three varieties (Deltapine Acala 90, Deltapine 41, and DES 422) possessed similar physical properties, indicated by measurements of fiber length, Micronaire, and strength by Stelometer, except for inconsistencies in the HVI strength values compared to those determined by Stelometer. An evaluation of the samples demonstrated different molecular weight distributions, different peak locations of the secondary wall, and different weight average molecular weights.