CELLULOSE OXIDATION BY A PERFLUORINATED HYDROCARBON SOLUTIONOF NITROGEN DIOXIDE

摘要

A process for oxidizing cellulose involves reacting the cellulose with a solution of nitrogen dioxide in a perfluorocarbon solvent. In preferred embodiments, the solvent has a boiling point in the range between about 30.degree.C and 100.degree.C, the nitrogen dioxide concentration in the solution is in the range between about 2% and 12% by weight, and the reactants are maintained at a temperature between about 25.degree.C and 60.degree.C during a reaction time of at least about 7 hours.