Surface and bulk reactions of cellulose oxidation by periodate. A simple kinetic model

The kinetics of periodate oxidation of cellulose was followed by exploiting the beta-alkoxy degradation of oxidised units in alkaline medium, that brings about a decrease of viscometric degree of polymerisation. The parallel strong weight loss after NaOH treatment indicates a non-random mechanism of oxidation. The obtained results are interpreted on the basis of an appositely derived kinetic model that can be applied to other mechanisms of bulk and surface degradation.