Synthesis and characterization of low sulfoethylated cellulose

The synthesis and characterization of sulfoethyl cellulose (SEC) exhibiting low degrees of substitution ascribed to sulfoethyl groups (DSSE) were reported. The effects of reaction temperature, duration, reaction mediums as well as sulfoethylating agents on DSSE were investigated. The total DSSE was determined via elemental analysis and the structure of SEC was elucidated by FT Raman, one- (1D-) and two-dimensional (2D-) NMR spectroscopy. Based on the characterization, SEC with diverse total DSSE up to 0.65 were obtained and the primary hydroxyl groups were found to be preferably substituted. Finally, the feasibility of using FT Raman spectroscopy with the band at 1044, 811 or 747 cm−1 as marker band to determine total DSSE of SEC was presented.