Effect of a Wetting Agent on the Hydrolysis of Highly Methylated Cotton Cellulose

The acid-catalyzed, heterogeneous hydrolysis of a highly methylated cotton cellulose has been investigated, with particular attention to the effect of incorporating a wetting agent in the hydrolysis medium. It was found that the amount of fast-reacting material was small when the aqueous acid did not contain a wetting agent, but was increased severalfold in the presence of an active wetting agent. The rate constant for the slow-reacting material was also increased by the wetting agent. The minimum viscosity reached during hydrolysis was the same in the presence or in the absence of the wetting agent.