Abstract: Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was prepared using bio-butanol by-product as raw material. The effects of different processing methods of raw materials, alkali dosage, ether dosage and self-made additives on properties of CMC were discussed. The products were charaterized by Haake Rheometer Rheostress and FT-IR. The results showed that CMC excellent properties could be obtained with bio-butanol by-product from corn stalks or corncob hemi-cellulose, especially those bleaching with hydrogen peroxide but without a procedure of steam explosion treatment. The CMC had high viscosity when the alkali/etherifying agent in the amount of material than about 2.0. The CMC had high substitution degree when the alkali/etherifying agent in the amount of material than about 2.3. The CMC solution viscosity increased with the decrease of shear rate, it showed a strong shear dilution. The CMC had strong absorption peaks in 1500-1700 cm^-1. It was also demonstrated that the additives could increase significantly the viscosity of CMC. The physical and chemical data of CMC were as follows:pH value 7.8-8.3;water content≤6.6%;viscosity (2%, 25℃)35-6300 mPa·s;substitution degree 0.65-1.16.

Key words: corn stalks, bio-butanol by-product, carboxymethyl cellulose