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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Plant Polymer Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #90329
Title: BIOPOLYMER CITRATES: PREPARATION AND ION EXCHANGE PROPERTIES

Author
item Wing, Robert
item Sessa, David

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Several biomass agricultural materials (starch, corn fiber, ground corn cobs, and cellulose fiber) have been reacted thermochemically with citric acid. Citric acid dehydrates at high temperature to form a reactive anhydride, which reacts with hydroxyl groups of carbohydrates. Data is presented to show effect of temperature, citric acid concentration, pH, and reaction time. Reaction efficiencies approaching 100% were achieved, while minimizing cross-linking and maximizing carboxyl content. Biomass carbohydrate makeup (starch, cellulose, hemicellulose) gave products showing variable reaction efficiencies and properties. All products possess high ion exchange capacity and data is presented for nine heavy metals. The potential also exists for one time use to yield biodegradable materials in lieu of petrochemically based resins.