The Nonaqueous Carboxymethylation of Cotton

Abstract

Cotton fiber, thread, and fabric were carboxymethylated by a nonaqueous process. Activated cotton was impregnated with an isopropanol solution of monochloroacetic acid and refluxed with 0.3% sodium hydroxide in a mixture of methanol and isopropanol. Degrees of substitution ranging up to 0.09 were achieved. Higher values can be ob tained by retreatment or premercerization. Four varieties of cotton fiber have been carboxymethylated by this method. Cor relation between the reactivity and the original physical properties of the fibers has been shown. Textile properties of fabric treated by this nonaqueous method and those of a sample treated by the usual aqueous alkali method were compared at equal substitution. The α-methyl-, α-ethyl-, α-propyl-, α-decyl-, and α-cetylcarboxymethyl derivatives of cotton were prepared in low degrees of substitution, using the appropriate α-halo carboxylic acid as etherifying agent in the nonaqueous reaction.