Enzymatic Properties of Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose

The degradation will occur in Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose under the action of the enzyme. Anti-biodegradability is measured by the viscosity change of the Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose solution before and after the attack of the enzyme under certain conditions. Changing the molecular structure of Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose can improve its resistance to enzymatic degradation. Only when the degree of substitution is very high and the substituents are uniformly distributed, Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose can be protected and less affected by the attack of cellulase enzymes. Such products are called “bio-stabilizers”.

The key to prepare the enzyme-resistant Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose is to improve the uniformity of the substituent distribution, thus reducing the proportion of the adjacent unsubstituted glucose ring and making the steric hindrance of enzymatic degradation become larger.

The degradation will also occur in the Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose solution by the effect of oxidation, acid hydrolysis, heat and mechanical force. For example, the viscosity reduction in the latex paint is due to the presence of oxidizing agent making the degradation of Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose. The research and technology development of improving the viscosity reduction of Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose caused by the non-enzymatic degradation is also very important.