Obtaining a surfactant substance through cellulose modification

Abstract

The world's attention to environmental problems has motivated, in recent decades, studies on production of substances derived from biomass, since it is a renewable source and its derivatives present low environmental impact. Among the substances extracted from biomass, the pulp it has had highlighted, and use in various applications, because its structure can be modified giving products with different properties for industrial use. This study aimed to develop a technological route to getting sisal surfactant substance (Agave sisalana) modified with lauryl alcohol from cellulose xanthate. The product obtained was chemically characterized by spectroscopy in the infrared Fourier transform (FT-IR) for the insertion of the modifier in the cellulosic macromolecules and the results of this analysis show that the process of modification employed was effective. Analysis testing of the capacity dissolution and the degree of saponification of the new product in an aqueous medium, the process performed showed that gave good dispersion and low degree of saponification. The amphiphilic character of the modified cellulose, together with the low degree of saponification gave them attributes for use in industrial processes.