Mechanism of sodium-hypochlorite-induced degradation of cellulose acetate and the enhancement of its degradation resistance by chemical modification

Cellulose acetate, when used in the form of hollow fibers in the ultrafiltration stage of water treatment, is occasionally treated with sodium hypochlorite to remove organic particles such as humic acids. However, prolonged use of sodium hypochlorite reduces the strength of the membrane and facilitates its breakage. The present study was designed to reveal the degradation mechanism of cellulose acetate caused by aqueous sodium hypochlorite and to improve its resistance to this chemical. Filaments of cellulose acetate, prepared using a nonsolvent-induced phase separation method, were exposed to 2000 ppm aqueous sodium hypochlorite at 25°C for 13 days to allow for evaluation of the changes in their tensile strength, elongation at break, molecular weight, degree of substitution, and chemical structure. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and molecular weight decreased as the duration of exposure to sodium hypochlorite increased. No significant changes in the degree of substitution were observed by one-dimensional hydrogen 1 nuclear magnetic resonance, and cleavages of both glycoside bonds and carbon–carbon bonds were detected by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, revealing that base-catalyzed hydrolysis of ester groups did not play an important role in degradation. The chemical modifications of the cellulose esters, such as the introduction of pentanoyl, stearoyl, and benzoyl groups, were studied in accordance with the degradation mechanism, and cellulose esters with bulky substituents such as benzoyl groups were found to exhibit improved chlorine resistance. Perbenzoylated cellulose, which exhibited high resistance to sodium hypochlorite, is considered to be a potential membrane material for the filtration of foulant-rich raw water.