Aminocelluloses - Polymers with Fascinating Properties and Application Potential

Abstract

Cellulose is a linear d-glucan containing β-1→ 4 linkages and is the world’s most abundant natural polymer with an estimated annual global production of about 1.5× 1012 tons and, hence, a very important renewable and sustainable resource [1]. Although unmodified cellulose is used largely as paper, board, and fibers, there is huge space to design novel and advanced products based on cellulose by its chemical modification. In particular, esters and ethers of cellulose are most important [1, 2]. Due to their low-cost production, biodegradability, and low-toxicity cationized polysaccharides are promising in fields of effluent treatment, papermaking, and food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, petroleum, and textile industries, as well as in analytical chemistry and molecular biology [3]. In particular, cationic cellulose derivatives gain increasing interest in different scientific and industrial fields, e.g. as flocculation agents [4], being an alternative to toxic polyacrylamide. In Germany, the disposal of sludge treated with polyacrylamides has been forbidden in areas under cultivation since 2014 [5]. Considering the recent literature, the huge amount of publications was summarized in reviews about cationic synthetic polyelectrolytes [6] as well as cationized polysaccharides (amino and ammonium hydroxypropyl ethers) [3]. However, in this chapter, the authors will not review the cationic ethers; the overview refers to cationic esters, 6-deoxy-6-amino cellulose derivatives, and amino carbamates of cellulose. In spite of the industrial applications that are usually associated with cationic polymers, a variety of advanced polymer coatings providing sophisticated features, e.g. biosensors or immuno assays, will be presented.