Enhancing the Hydrophobicity of Cellulose Beads through ASA Treatment

Hydrophobic cellulose beads were successfully prepared by immersing cellulose beads in an alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) solution for surface modification.The cellulose beads were fabricated by dissolving hardwood bleached kraft pulp (HwBKP) in a tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAH)/urea solvent, followed by a dropping method to produce spherical structures.FT-IR analysis confirmed the formation of covalent ester bonds between ASA and cellulose, as evidenced by the disappearance of anhydride peaks and the appearance of new ester peaks.Compared to untreated cellulose beads, ASA-treated beads exhibited reduced water absorption capacity, while their oil absorption capacity was increased.Furthermore, the ASA-treated beads showed enhanced wet strength, as indicated by lower deformation under shear stress after swelling in water, indicating successful hydrophobic modification.These results suggest that ASA treatment by immersion is an effective approach for fabricating hydrophobic cellulose beads.