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Esterification of carboxylic acids on cellulosic material: Solid state reactions

  • Anna Pantze , Olov Karlsson and Ulla Westermark
Published/Copyright: February 4, 2008
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Holzforschung
From the journal Volume 62 Issue 2

Abstract

In the present work, the formation of ester linkages in cellulosic materials during drying and heating was addressed. The results indicated that direct ester formation, without anhydride intermediate, occurs between carboxylic acids of suitable structure and cellulosic hydroxyls at 180°C, even after reaction times as short as 5 min. The 2(R)-hydroxybutyric acid is most effective in ester formation, followed by 2-ketobutyric acid and 3-hydroxybutyric acid. Hexanoic acid is less effective and veratric acid produces no esters at all. At lower temperatures, 2-ketobutyric acid is the most reactive compound. One conclusion is that a hydroxyl or keto group in α position of the carboxylic acids favours ester formation. Another finding is that three pyrrolidine structures are produced after esterification and aminolysis of 2-ketobutyric acid. One of the structures indicates that 2-ketobutyric acid is reactive in two positions and could therefore be a potential cross-linker. A critical parameter for ester formation is pH, and the results indicate that pH <2 strongly favours esterification, whereas almost no esters are produced at pH >5–6. All experiments were performed in a solid-state model system (on cellulosic filter paper) with low moisture content. Esterification of five carboxylic acids was studied. Samples were heated constantly at 180°C for 5 min or gradually from 22°C to 180°C over periods ranging from 5 to 45 min. Quantitative analysis of ester formation between the monocarboxylic acids and the hydroxyl groups of cellulose was performed by means of aminolysis and gas chromatography.


Corresponding author. Luleå University of Technology, Division of Wood Science and Technology, LTU Skellefteå, 931 87 Skellefteå, Sweden

Received: 2007-3-22
Accepted: 2007-10-10
Published Online: 2008-02-04
Published Online: 2007-12-10
Published in Print: 2008-03-01

©2008 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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