Grafting of fibrillated cellulose with acrylic compounds: Synthesis, Properties and Biodegradation

The cellulose and cellulose acetate (CA) have been directly grafted with an acrylic compounds using a grafting to method with a free isocyanate group as a coupling agent in homogeneous medium. The grafting reaction parameters were optimized compared to grafting reaction in heterogeneous conditions. The grafted products (Cell-RSH, Cell-R'SH, CA-RSH and CA-R'SH) with well-defined architecture were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR, their thermal degradation was also studied by thermal analysis (TGA/ DTG). The effect of solvent systems on their solubility behavior was also investigated. The biodegradation process of these derivatives was established using two different procedures. The introduction of different side chain lengths and nature groups with well-defined architecture into the main chain of cellulose and CA can modify their phase behavior and can be promising agents in several uses such as, bioplastics, drug carriers, etc.