The development of a soft and disposable cellulosic product by partial oxidation of cotton with oxides of nitrogen
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Abstract
Cotton absorbents because of their insolubility, create a problem in sewage disposal. As a solution to this problem, the partial oxidation of cotton with oxides of nitrogen to produce a textile which would disintegrate in sewage within a short time, has been investigated.
Raw material for the investigation was spooled, size 30, white, cotton thread which had been dried over P2O5. Partial oxidation of the thread by WO2 gas was carried out in a three-necked 500 ml. distillation flask, the thread being wound uniformly on a polystyrene plastic spool.
In the experiments conducted, thread was oxidized for two hour periods at 19, 25, and 31°C; the ratios (by weight) of WO2 gas to cotton were 0.75. 1.50, 3.00 and 4.50. Gas volume was 545 ml.
From analysis using Ludtke’s calcium acetate method, the products were found to have carboxyl (-COOH) group contents of 2.30-7.21 percent.
In the temperature range of 19-31°C the degree of oxidation of the cotton varied inversely with the temperature. This phenomenon may be explained by a possible equilibrium in the gaseous state of W2O4 and W2O3, through which atomic oxygen is made available.
The products did not disintegrate or lose tensile strength as a result of exposure to raw sewage for one week.
Only four of the products could be accurately tested for tensile strength. These showed a lose in strength of approximately 36-47 percent following oxidation.
Products of oxidation having carboxyl (-COOH) group contents of 5.7 percent or greater were relatively stiff and hard as compared to those having lesser carboxyl group contents.
When dyed with methylene blue, the inner sections of the thread products, which were not readily exposed to the oxides of nitrogen, showed a lesser affinity for the dye than the exposed, outer sections. As a measured with methylene blue dye, the oxidation reaction penetrated to the inner fibers of the thread products only to a limited extent.