Session: General Poster:

Mechanochemistry gain in interest these last years. Different publications revealed the benefits of time and simplicity that this method brings. Mechanochemistry is now used in an increasing range of organic reactions under solvent-free conditions. Indeed, this technic is inexpensive, and the yields of covalent reactions can be dramatically increased by using simple and solvent-free process with mixing directly the chemicals reagents at solid state.
Cellulose is a wonderful platform to perform covalent chemical modifications. Indeed, hydroxyl groups in cellulosic chains can be advantageously exploited to create for example ester bond using different carboxylic acids as reagents.
A preliminary study consisting of evaluating the effectiveness and kinetic of the mechanochemistry treatment for the esterification reaction between various carboxylic acids and model compounds of cellulose like glucose, sorbitol and, cellobiose was carried out. These treatments occurred at atmospheric pressure and at room temperature without any solvents. The more efficient reaction was then tested with the corresponding organic acids and cellulose fibers in the same conditions by a solvent-free mechanochemistry process. Positive surface fiber chemical modification was confirmed by FTIR and XPS analysis whereas impact of process onto cellulose fiber morphology is followed by SEM images and microscopy images. Such process is a new solution to prepare modified cellulose without solvents.

Naceur Belgacem

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