The effect of precipitation on the molecular weight distribution of cellulose tricarbanilate

The effect of precipitation on the molecular weight distributions of cellulose tricarbanilate (CTC) samples prepared from α‐pulp, hydrolyzed α‐pulp, and Avicel was determined using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Precipitation of the CTC samples in methanol resulted in the loss of a low molecular weight fraction accounting for 26% of the weight of the hydrolyzed α‐pulp, 20% of the Avicel, and 5% of the α‐pulp. Precipitation in a methanol/water mixture resulted in less fractionation; in this case, however, the reaction byproducts were also precipitated. These results indicate that the molecular weight distribution of precipitated CTC may not accurately reflect the molecular weight distribution of the original cellulose. SEC analysis of the nonvolatile products from the carbanilation reaction offers a simple method for determining the complete molecular weight distribution of this cellulose derivative.