摘要:
The invention concerns a method for making a solid cellulosic or starchy material hydrophobic which consists in: grafting a fatty material on the alcohol functions of the cellulosic or starchy material. The invention is characterised in that the grafting is performed by (a) suspending the cellulosic or starchy material in a liquid phase consisting of a fatty acid or a fatty acid ester; (b) stirring the heterogeneous medium in the presence of a basic catalyst to cause the phases to be contacted with each other; (c) subjecting the heterogeneous medium to microwave radiation so as to bring it to a temperature ranging between 150 °C and 210 °C for a duration between 30 seconds and 30 minutes. The inventive method enables to make a cellulosic or starchy material hydrophobic without using toxic solvents.