EPR Studies of Carbonized Cellulose - Oxygen Interactions

EPR examination of cellulose carbonized at 400ºC and 600ºC has been performed. The aim of this work was to search a sample useful as the oximetric probe in biology and medicine. The higher paramagnetic centers concentration characterizes cellulose carbonized at 600ºC, which was found as the sensitive oximetric probe. Quasi-chemical bonds between cellulose molecules and paramagnetic O$\text{}_{2}$ molecules decrease paramagnetic centers concentration. A linear increase in paramagnetic centers concentration and a linear decrease in EPR linewidth with increasing time of sample evacuation were observed for cellulose carbonized at 600ºC. Oxygen affects spin-lattice interactions in carbonized cellulose.