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Heritage Science
Scheme 2 | Heritage Science

Scheme 2

From: A diagnostic tool for assessing the conservation condition of cellulose nitrate and acetate in heritage collections: quantifying the degree of substitution by infrared spectroscopy

Scheme 2

Cellulose nitrate degradation occurs by the homolytic scission of the nitrate groups resulting in the release of NO2• and the formation of an alkoxy radical. By the addition of H•, the alkoxy radical is transformed into a hydroxyl, resulting in the decrease of the DS, top. The acid-catalyzed heterolytic side-chain scission of the acetyl esters occurs by nucleophilic substitution, with the release of acetic acid and formation of a hydroxyl group, which also results in the decrease of the DS, bottom

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