Chemical Modification of Anion-Exchange Cottons with Propane Sultone

Abstract

Propane sultone (3-hydroxy-1-pupanesulfonic acid sultone) was reacted with cotton fabric modified to contain either a tertiary amine group (diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cotton) or a primary amine group (aminized cotton). No reaction was obtained with cotton modified to contain a carboxyl group (carboxymethyl cotton). Freshly prepared DEAE- cotton in the free amine form was several times more reactive with the sultone than was DEAE-cotton that had been exposed to atmospheric conditions capable of converting it to the hydrosalt form. Tertiary butanol was the best solvent for DEAE-cotton reactions and methanol was best for aminized cotton in the hydrosalt form. About 10% of propane sul tone in the solvent seems to be the optimum concentration. A temperature of 50°C for approximately 1 hr produced sufficient reaction in most instances. Products formed from sodium cellulosates have potential as cation exchangers and those formed from cottons containing amine groups contain zwitterions of the sulfobetaine type.