Synthesis and Characterization of Alkyl Bacterial Cellulose through Etherification with Alkyl Bromide in DMAc/LiCl

Four types of alkyl (ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl) bacterial cellulose with the degree of substitution 0.14-2.64 were prepared through etherification of bacterial cellulose with alkyl bromide in dimethyl acetamide/lithium chloride solution under ambient pressure at 50°C, with sodium hydride as the acid binding agent. The products were characterized through FTIR, NMR, and elemental analysis. The solubility of the derivatives in chloroform, ethanol, DMSO, and toluene/ethanol (V/V 3/7) was tested. Key words: alkyl bacterial cellulose, alkyl bromide, synthesis, characterization