High Purity Dissolving Pulps

Both the sulfite and alkaline (kraft) methods can be modified to produce high purity chemical ceUulose. These pulps, usuaUy in the form of "dissolving pulps," are not only mosdy free of lignin and hemiceUulose, but the molecular weight of the ceUulose is degraded. This increases solubUity in alkah and provides desired viscosity levels in solution. These dissolving pulps are used to make derivatives such as sodium ceUulose xanthate [9051 -13-2] via alkah ceUulose, and various esters and ethers (see Cellulose esters Cellulose ethers). 

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