Effect of Reaction Time and Solvent Ratio on the Acetylation of Isolated Cellulose Fiber from Tropical Water Hyacinth

Abstract Isolated cellulose fibers from water hyacinth were used to create cellulose acetate (CA) polymers. The cellulose was acetylated using an acetic acid and acetic anhydride reaction, with sulfuric acid acting as the catalyst. The degree of substitution (DS) of synthetic CA was examined, along with the effects of acetylation time and solvent ratio. The study indicated that the appropriate DS for CA was found to be 2.47 and the matching ideal operating parameters included a reaction duration of 16 hours, and a ratio of 4:1 between acetic acid and acetic anhydride at temperature of 50°C. The results of the study showed that the cellulose isolated from water hyacinth was successfully acetylated, which was supported by the existence of distinct peaks in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. This suggests that the process of acetylating the isolated cellulose fibers is a straight-forward process that can be employed to create a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly CA. This CA has the potential to cost-effectively and sustainably replace expensive raw materials derived from fossil fuels in the polymer industry.