Synthesis of hydroxyethyl cellulose from industrial waste using microwave irradiation

Abstract The paper describes the synthesis of hydroxyethyl cellulose from industrial waste, namely, air particle vacuum dust (APVD). The selected reaction parameters were sodium hydroxide concentration, ethylene oxide proportion, reaction time, and reaction temperature in an attempt to understand their effects on the reaction. For this purpose, APVD was bleached and mercerized using sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide solution to remove/dissolve non-cellulosic material. The modified waste material was then reacted with ethylene oxide under microwave irradiation to obtain hydroxyethyl cellulose. To determine the effect of each reaction parameter, the degree of substitution and viscosity were measured and compared in detail. The greatest values were achieved using 40% (w/v) sodium hydroxide, one gram ethylene oxide per gram of APVD, a 90 min reaction time, and a 70 °C reaction temperature. Process efficiency was evaluated by recording 1 H-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), solid- 13 C-NMR, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Thermal Analysis-Thermogravimetry, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Scanning Electron Microscope of best samples. These helped elucidate the expected reaction. The proposed method, compared with the conventional method, was easy, fast, and straightforward.