Green synthesis of cellulose acetate by solid superacid SO_4~(2-)/Fe_2O_3 catalysis

Solid superacid SO~(2-)_4/Fe_(2)O_(3) was prepared and used as a green catalyst to replace traditional vitriol in synthesis of cellulose acetate(CA).The acylation reactions of cellulose were carried out both in DMAc/LiCl solution and in solvent-free conditions.FT-IR,AFM and (H~(1)-NMR) measurements reveal that in the presence of the solid superacid catalyst there formed cellulose acetate,and that the acylation degree of cellulose in solvent-free conditions depends on the reaction time.This method provides a new environmental benign route to synthesize cellulose acetate.