Abstract: The present invention relates to substituted cellulose acetates and methods of use thereof. One embodiment of the present invention provides a composition having a substituted cellulose acetate having a polar substituent that has an oxygen atom covalently bonded to a nonmetal selected from the group of sulfur, phosphorus, and boron; where the nonmetal is present in at least about 0.01% by weight of the substituted cellulose acetate.

Abstract: Instilling an acidic catalyst to a reaction mixture can be beneficial during the acylation of cellulose. Methods described herein can comprise preparing a reaction mixture comprising an acylating agent and cellulose, instilling a catalyst comprising an acid to the reaction mixture at an overall catalyst loading level of about 10% to about 20% by weight of the cellulose, and reacting the cellulose with the acylating agent in the presence of the catalyst, thereby forming an acylated cellulose.

Abstract: Instilling an acidic catalyst to a reaction mixture can be beneficial during the acylation of cellulose. Methods described herein can comprise preparing a reaction mixture comprising an acylating agent and cellulose, instilling a catalyst comprising an acid to the reaction mixture, and reacting the cellulose with the acylating agent in the presence of the catalyst, thereby forming an acylated cellulose.

Abstract: Instilling an acidic catalyst to a reaction mixture can be beneficial during the acylation of cellulose. Methods described herein can comprise preparing a reaction mixture comprising an acylating agent and cellulose, instilling a catalyst comprising an acid to the reaction mixture at an overall catalyst loading level of about 1% or less by weight of the cellulose, and reacting the cellulose with the acylating agent in the presence of the catalyst, thereby forming an acylated cellulose.

Abstract: Cellulose acetates and processes for producing same. The process involves esterifying a cellulose containing material in the presence of a densified gas such as supercritical carbon dioxide to form a cellulose acetate product having a degree of substitution less than 3. The cellulose acetate preferably is sulfate-free.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of determining the nitrogen content in nitrocellulose by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). It is within the scope of the invention for the sample of nitrocellulose to be unstable nitrocellulose, unrefined nitrocellulose, or refined nitrocellulose. The sample of nitrocellulose can wet or dry. A sample of nitrocellulose that is wet can be in acid or in water. Before HPLC, the sample is dissolved in a suitable solvent. The nitrogen content of the sample is determined by comparing the retention time of the sample to a graph of retention time to amount of nitrogen due to the linear correlation of retention time and percent nitrogen substitution.

Abstract: A process for recycling cellulose acetate ester waste comprising the steps of: providing a reactor, adding cellulose acetate ester waste and a hydrolyzing agent to the reactor to create an agent/waste mixture followed by hydrolyzing the cellulose acetate ester waste by agitating and heating the agent/waste mixture for a period of time to create a hydrolyzed mixture. The hydrolyzing agent is then distilled and/or separated from the hydrolyzed mixture followed by separating and removing solid material from the hydrolyzed mixture to create a water soluble product stream which includes monosaccharides, polysaccharides, partially hydrolyzed cellulose, acetic acid, or combinations thereof. The water soluble product stream is then collected.