New hemicellulose-based hydrogels

• Different kinds of hemicellulose-based hydrogels have been made by radical polymerization using hydrosoluble hemicellulose from spruce chips with a number-average molecular weight and polydispersity of 2400 and 1.5 respectively. 80% of the hemicellulose was galactoglucomannan. and the remainder mainly 4-O-methylglucuronoxylan. Hemicellulose/poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) based hydrogels were prepared by polymerization in water of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with hemicellulose modified with well-defined amounts of methacrylic functions. The chemical modification of hemicellulose was performed in dimethyl sulfoxide using 2[(l-imidazolyl) formyloxy]ethyl methacrylate as modifying agent. The kinetics of the modification reaction were monitored by H-1 NMR. The degree of modification of the hemicellulose used for the hydrogel synthesis varied from 10% to 40%. The ratio of modified hemicellulose to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate in the hydrogels was 1: 1 by weight. The resulting hydrogels were elastic, homogeneous, soft, transparent and easily swollen in water.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

dextran

polymers

wood

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)