Functionalisation of carbohydrate, especially e.g. to improve the properties of paper-making pulp, involves treatment with an oxidising agent in presence of a copper-phenanthroline complex

摘要

A method (M1) for the functionalisation of carbohydrates, including paper-making pulp, cellulose and polysaccharides such as starch, involves at least one stage in which the carbohydrates react with an oxidising agent (I) in presence of a copper-phenanthroline complex (II). Independent claims are also included for (1) a method (M2) for the functionalisation of cellulose fibres in paper pulp by (a) delignification of the lignocellulose material followed by (b) a bleaching stage in which the material is treated with (I) in presence of (II) (2) a method (M3) for the functionalisation of cellulose fibres in paper pulp by (a) delignification, (b) alkaline extraction, (c) bleaching and (d) treatment with (I) in presence of (II), where stage (d) may be carried out during stage (b) and/or (c) .