The effects of solvents on chemical phenomena is complex because there are various solute-solvent interaction mechanisms. Solvatochromism refers to the effects of solvents on the spectra of probes. The study of this phenomenon sheds light on the relative importance of the solvation mechanisms. Solvation in pure solvents is quantitatively analyzed in terms of a multi-parameter equation. In binary solvent mixtures, solvation is analyzed by considering the organic solvent, S, water, W, and a 1:1 hydrogen bonded species (S-W). The applications of solvatochromism to understand distinct chemical phenomena, reactivity and swelling of cellulose, is briefly discussed.

Este trabalho apresenta alguns aspectos da acetilação em LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamida, DMAc de celulose de sisal nativa e mercerizada (sisal e M-sisal). A mercerização da fibra em solução de NaOH resulta nas seguintes alterações: decréscimo de 29.9 % no índice de cristalinidade; diminuição de 16.2% no grau de polimerização e aumento de 9.3% no conteúdo de α-celulose. Estudo com espalhamento de luz de soluções de sisal, M-sisal, celulose microcristalina e algodão mostrou que elas se apresentam na forma de agregados, com números médios de agregação de 5.2, 3.2, 9.8 e 35.3, respectivamente. A presença destes agregados afeta a acessibilidade à celulose durante sua funcionalização. Acompanhamento do grau de substituição, DS, de acetato de celulose em função do tempo, mostrou que o mesmo aumenta por um intervalo de tempo de 5 h, seguido por um decréscimo após 7 h. Possíveis razões para este decréscimo são discutidas. Como esperado, M-sisal apresenta um DS maior que a sisal nativa.

We report here on some aspects of the acetylation in LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide, DMAc, of untreated and mercerized sisal cellulose, hereafter designated as sisal and M-sisal, respectively. Fiber mercerization by NaOH solution has resulted in the following changes: 29.9% decrease in the index of crystallinity; 16.2% decrease in the degree of polymerization and 9.3% increase in α-cellulose content. A light scattering study of solutions of sisal, M-sisal, microcrystalline and cotton celluloses in LiCl/DMAc has shown that they are present as aggregates, with (an apparent) average aggregation numbers of 5.2, 3.2, 9.8, and 35.3, respectively. The presence of these aggregates affects the accessibility of cellulose during its functionalization. A study of the evolution of the degree of substitution, DS, of cellulose acetate as a function of reaction time showed an increase up to 5 h, followed by a decrease at 7 h. Possible reasons for this decrease are discussed. As expected, M-sisal gave a higher DS that its untreated counterpart.

The environmental impact of detergents and other consumer products is behind the continued interest in the chemistry of the surfactants used. Of these, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LASs) are most widely employed in detergent formulations. The precursors to LASs are linear alkylbenzenes (LABs). There is also interest in the chemistry of these hydrocarbons, because they are usually present in commercial LASs (due to incomplete sulfonation), or form as one of their degradation products. Additionally, they may be employed as molecular tracers of domestic waste in the aquatic environment. The following aspects are covered in the present review: The chemistry of surfactants, in particular LAS; environmental impact of the production of LAS; environmental and toxicological effects of LAS; mechanisms of removal of LAS in the environment, and methods for monitoring LAS and LAB, the latter in domestic wastes. Classical and novel analytical methods employed for the determination of LAS and LAB are discussed in detail, and a brief comment on detergents in Brazil is given.