Cellulose

Cellulose

History and Applications

Cellulose is a common material in plant cell walls and was first noted as such in 1838. It occurs naturally in almost pure form only in cotton fibre; in combination with lignin and any hemicellulose, it is found in all plant material. Cellulose is the most abundant form of living terrestrial biomass (Crawford, R. L. 1981. Lignin biodegradation and transformation, John Wiley and Sons, New York.) Cellulose, especially cotton linters, is used in the manufacture of nitrocellulose, historically used in smokeless gunpowder.

Related Topics:
Cell wall - Cotton - Lignin - Hemicellulose - Cotton linters - Nitrocellulose - Smokeless gunpowder

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some animals, particularly ruminants and termites, can digest cellulose with the help of symbiotic micro-organisms - see methanogen.

Related Topics:
Ruminant - Termite - Symbiotic - Methanogen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cellulose is processed to make cellophane and rayon, and more recently Modal, a textile derived from beechwood cellulose.

Related Topics:
Cellophane - Rayon - Modal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cellulose is also used within the laboratory as a solid-state substrate for thin layer chromotography.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cellulose is the major constituent of paper.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~