Facile acetylation of woody biomass using a glycol ether solvent

This study was aimed at modifying the surface of cellulose. An acetylated sample was prepared through a simpler process compared with conventional acetylation, and its characteristics were analyzed. The particle size of the sample was approximately 0.5-1.0 mm; the particle size of the wood flour decreased as the amount of acetic anhydride was increased. Further, the yield of the acetylated sample increased with the acetic anhydride content, and the lowest yield was obtained when the acetic acid and acetic anhydride content were the same. Additionally, the residual lignin content decreased as the acetic acid content increased. The degree of acetylation of the sample was confirmed through the peaks of the carbonyl, acetyl, and hydroxyl groups in the IR spectra. The degree of substitution (DS) of the facile acetylated sample increased rapidly with the addition of acetic anhydride.