The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Richard H Steele

Ruth R Benerito

Dorothy M Perrier

Strong base quaternary ammonium cellulose derivatives prepared under anhydrous conditions are further chemically modified in selected organic solvents by a sequential process that produces a partial cellulose ether in fibrous form that can be used in electro-chemical reactions covering a range of oxidation-reduction potentials. These new derivatives can be prepared such that they stabilize a given anion in the cellulose matrix until such time as its oxidation or reduction power is needed in desired chemical reactions. Although prepared in nonaqueous media, these red-ox cellulosic anion exchangers can be used to regulate oxidation-reduction reactions in aqueous media. Some of these new red-ox anion exchangers are dispersible in water and can be reprecipitated by organic solvents without losing their red-ox abilities during the process. Others are water insoluble. Thus these red-ox cellulosic exchangers can be tailor made to specific end uses such as for applications in separation of biochemical or organic mixtures, the identification of reducible or oxidizable chemicals, purification of polluted liquids by oxidation or reduction of contaminants.

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Richard H Steele