Novel Treatment Route for Preparation and Characterization of Carboxymethyl Cellulose

A novel route of partial carboxymethylation, termed pad-dry-pad-cure, was investigated using conventional fabric processing equipment. The effect of process parameters such as concentration of sodium hydroxide, curing time, and concentration of ammonium monochloroacetate on the carboxymethylation content was probed. The treatment was characterized for uniformity by laser scanning confocal microscopy and for changes in fiber cross-sectional geometry by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Confocal micrographs revealed the occurrence of treatment uniformly across the fiber cross sections, whereas SEM showed the resultant oval cross sections of the treated fibers.