ABSTRACT: Ethanol/water pulp of pith from sugar cane bagasse was used for the obtention of insoluble carboxymethylcellulose applicable as absorbent material. Typically the carboxymethylation reaction of the bleached pulp was carried out at 80 °C for 4 hours in isopropanol/water suspension 1:8 (w/w) employing a 1.0 / 5.4 / 8.8 cellulose / NaOH / ClAcOH molar ratio. The material with the best absorbent characteristics corresponds to a very insoluble product (S W < 2%) possessing better absorbent properties than the pulp of pith used for its obtention.
Insoluble carboxymethylcellulose; ethanol; sugar cane pith
