ABSTRACT
Highly purified wood pulp composed of 92-98 % cellulose, known as dissolving pulp, is utilized for manufacturing cellulosic products derived from the chemical processing of cellulose. With an annual global production averaging 3.65 million tonnes in 2003, dissolving pulp accounted for 2.8 % of the total wood pulp production. [1, 2] In 1998, pure cellulosic products (predominantly viscose) represented about 60 % of the uses for dissolving pulp, and derivatives of cellulose about 40 %. [2]
Chemical modifications of cellulose generally involve reaction with its 2, 3 and 6 hydroxyl groups. [3] These reactive groups undergo most of the reactions characteristic of alcohols. Esterification and etherification of cellulose are of particular importance.
