Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Cellulose Nonionic Ether

A kind of novel cellulose ether-trihydroxybutyl cellulose （THBC） was synthesized. The process includes the steam explosion treatment of cotton cellulose, alkalization, etherification and purification. Sweep electron microscope （SEM）, Fourier transform infrared （FTIR） and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the cellulose pretreated and the product. The effects of reaction conditions （temperature, time） on the molecular substitution （S_m） were discussed. To obtain a higher degree of molecular substitution, the reaction temperature is 80 ℃, and the reaction time is 4 h.