Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Holocellulose estimation
Holocellulose is the total carbohydrate fraction (cellulose and
hemicellulose) of the raw material and was estimated according to Wise et al.,
1946 as follows:
The raw material is ground in a laboratory Condux mill to pass a screen of
0.3 mm opening diameter and then extracted with an alcohol benzene (tolune)
mixture (1:1) for 6 hours. 5 gram of the raw material (exactly weighed) are
suspended in 150 ml water at 75C and the solution is stirred mechanically. 10
drops of glacial acetic acid and 1.5 g sodium chlorite are added and the reaction
has been allowed to proceed under vigorous stirring. After 1 hour the same
amount of reagents are added and this process is repeated until the total reaction
time was 4 hours . The solution is then cooled, filtered and washed with distilled
water until free of acid, then with acetone and left to dry. The holocellulose is then
estimated gravimetrically .
Alpha cellulose content
The term alpha cellulose describes that part of cellulose which does not
dissolve in 17.5% sodium hydroxide solution . Alpha cellulose can be determined
according to Zellcheming Merkblatt IV/29 A. About 3 g (exactly weighed) of the
sample (either pulp or holocellulose obtained from the raw material) are put in a
porcelain beaker (250 ml), then 25 ml of 17.5% NaOH are added and the sample
is left to swell for 4 minutes (time was exactly measured from the last drop), and
then pressed with a glass rod for 3 minutes. After pressing , another 25 ml of
sodium hydroxide are added and mixed thoroughly till a homogeneous paste is
obtained (mixing for about 1 minute). The beaker is then covered and left for 35
minutes at 20C . 100 ml of distilled water are then added and the material is
quickly filtered under suction using a sintered glass funnel. The filtrate is then
poured on the paste twice before washing with distilled water . After washing with
distilled water till neutrality 100 ml of 10% acetic acid are added dropwise
followed by distilled water . The temperature must be kept constant at 20C
during the whole experiment. The alpha cellulose is then estimated
gravimetrically after drying at 105- 106 C.