The basic principle of determining the molecular weight of cellulose by terminal group analysis is to quantify specific functional groups at the end of the polymer chain through chemical or physical methods, and then calculate the average molecular weight. The terminals of cellulose often contain groups such as hydroxyl groups (-OH), so molecular weight can be estimated by detecting the concentration of these terminal groups. Detailed steps: 1. Sample preparation Dissolve the cellulose sample in an appropriate solvent to ensure complete dissolution. Cellulose molecules are not easy to dissolve, and a suitable solvent system is required to choose, such as dimethylacetamide-lithium chloride system (DMAc/LiCl), or alkaline aqueous solution. 2. The commonly used methods for calibration of terminal groups in chemical reactions include esterification or acylation reaction, which modify the hydroxyl group (-OH) at the terminal of cellulose molecules. For example, acetylation reaction is used to react with the terminal hydroxyl group to form an acetate. The product generated after the reaction is then determined by titration or other quantitative analysis techniques, thereby indirectly calculating the concentration of the terminal hydroxyl group.
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