Anion-Exchange Cottons Prepared from Sodium Cellulosate1

Abstract
Sodium cellulosates containing from 0.5-1.9 mequivs of Na+ per gram of fabric were prepared by reacting cotton in methanolic solutions of sodium methoxide. The sodium cellulosates were reacted with β-chloroethyldiethylamine in t-butanol to form diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cottons of greater than 1.0% nitrogen. These DEAE -cottons, easily pre pared at room temperature, were readily converted to the quaternary-base cellulose anion exchangers. Quaternary-base anion exchangers of lower capacity were prepared by reacting sodium cellulosates with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride. Anion exchangers prepared in nonaqueous media did not differ in fabric properties from anion exchangers of similar capacities prepared in aqueous media. Ability of amino groups to catalyze cellulose-epoxide reactions was not significantly different in DEAE-cottons prepared in nonaqueous and in aqueous media.