ABSTRACT
In tree or in wood, cellulose plays an important role in providing basic structural element and strength. Although cellulose in its polymeric form is an excellent material for the manufacturing of many useful products, often it does present limitation for many areas of applications. In order for cellulose to be used in these areas and to improve its intrinsic value, modification of cellulose structure is mandatory. The most selective process of cellulose modification is the oxidation of cellulose by periodic acid and its salts to form a dialdehyde cellulose, which can be further oxidized to dicarboxylcellulose, tricarboxylcellulose, or reduced into an acyclic, stereoregular polymer of [(2r,4s,5r)-2,4,5-tris(hydroxymethyl)-l, 3-diox-opentamethylene]. A simple method of chemical modification of cellulose was proposed by Zhdanov and coworkers. This method was based on the "hydrophobic mercerization" of cellulose in a superbasic medium such as the dimethylsulfoxide-solid sodium hydroxide mixture, followed by etherification or esterification.
