Cellulose is modified with raw materials containing acetyl groups to form cellulose acetate
polymers. The raw materials used to manufacture these polymers are acetic acid and acetic
anhydride. Acetic acid, one of the simplest organic acids and a main component of vinegar,
may be produced by either natural or synthetic chemical processes. Acetic anhydride is
a molecule that is produced when one combines two acetic acid molecules and removes
water molecule Cellulose, acetic acid, and acetic anhydride are mixed together and reacted to form
cellulose acetate polymers. This process is aided by the addition of a small amount of
sulfuric acid which is subsequently neutralized during processing