The features of nitric acid ‘mercerization’ of cellulose

Transformation of native cellulose species into cellulose-II polymorph through the additive Knecht compound formed under the action of 68.5% nitric acid has been studied. Probable causes of peculiar temperature effects in the course of phase transformations taking place in cellulose of various origin, crystallite dispersity, or morphologic structure are discussed. The processes of hydrolytic destruction and esterification of starting materials during their ‘mercerization’ by this non-traditional agent at 20 °C and 0 °C are quantitatively characterized. In the case of mercerization of wood microcrystalline cellulose at 20 °C a decrystallizing effect due to side reactions of partial nitration is noted.