ИСТИНА

Under irradiation conditions, the degree of cellulose degradation substantially depends on temperature1. At least three paths of radiation-thermal degradation of cellulose are observed. At moderate temperatures (up to about 370 K), while hydrogen bonds remain, non-chain depolymerization prevails due to accidental cleavage of glycosidic bonds. At temperatures from 370 to 420 K, chain depolymerization takes place with the transfer of the radical center by small radicals like the H atom. At temperatures above 420 K (but before pyrolysis), another mechanism is observed, which can be called self-disassembly. There is a consistent dehydration of cellulose units and the formation of conjugated bonds that ensure the transfer of the radical center between the units. The macromolecule is sequentially shortened and furans are released (at least 50 % of the dry pulp weight), which, in turn, can serve as building blocks for the synthesis of "green" plastics.