Cellulose is extracted from deciduous timber, coniferous timber or cotton using a thermocatalytic process.
Various cellulose derivatives can then be synthesized by modifying the chemical structure of cellulose, a fully plant-based substance. This involves partially or completely substituting the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl groups with alkyl groups.
This process of generating cellulose ether is called etherification. The properties of the resulting substance depend on the average degree of substitution, degree of molar substitution, number of hydroxyl groups and the distribution of the substituted groups.
There are many types of cellulose ether, including:
Whether a cellulose ether is soluble in water or other mediums depends on the number and product type of ether groups, depending on the end-use. A low degree of etherification results in a cellulose ether that can dissolve in aqueous solutions, while a high degree of etherification makes the product soluble in nonpolar solvents. Using more than one etherification agent will result in a mixed cellulose ether.
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