HYDROLYSIS OF SULPHATE ACID ESTER IN UNSTABILIZED CELLULOSE NITRATES

The rate of hydrolysis of the sulphate acid ester in unstabilized cellulose nitrates in acetone/water solution at 25 °C. has been studied. The rate of hydrolysis in 90% acetone/water was too slow to produce a measurable increase in acidity during 24 hours. In 99% acetone/water solution the initial hydrolysis was very rapid and was followed by slower hydrolysis which was complete after 24 hours. Similar results were obtained with wood cellulose nitrates.In the case of cotton cellulose nitrates, there was an indication that hydrolysis of the sulphate acid ester decreased as the nitrogen content increased. The rate of hydrolysis of the sulphate acid ester in both cotton and wood cellulose nitrates was very similar to that of the sulphate acid ester in cellulose acetate sulphate.