Production of cellulose gum from sugar cane bagasse

Sugar cane bagasse is treated wih NaOH to remove lignin and free cellulose. The carboxymethylation reaction produces alkali cellulose:-Carboxymethylcellulose. It  is ether in which the hydroxyle group of anhydrous glucose is replaced by the carboxymethyl group of monochloroacetate. It is produced by two consecutive reaction: basification and etherification. 

Basification:

 [C6H7O2(OH)]n + nNaOH==>[C6H7O2(OH)2ONa]n + nH2O

Etherification

 [C6H7O2(OH)2ONa]n + nClCH2COONa==> [C6H7O2(OH)2OCH2COONa]n + nNaCl

Schematic flow sheet of  cellulose extraction from bagasse