Cellulose HSN : 47069200
CAS: 1333-86-4
cellulose. CAS: 9004-34-6. (C6H10O5)n
A natural carbohydrate high polymer (polysac- charide) consisting of anhydroglucose units joined by an oxygen linkage to form long molecu- lar chains that are essentially linear. It can be hydrolyzed to glucose. The degree of polymeriza- cotton fiber, giving a molecular weight from 160,000 to 560,000.
Cellulose is a colorless solid, d approximately 1.50, insoluble in water and organic solvents. It will swell in sodium hydroxide solution soluble and is soluble in Schweitzer's reagent. It is the fundamental constituent of all vegetable tissues (wood, grass, cotton, etc) and is the most abundant organic material in the world. Cotton fibers are almost pure cellulose, wood contains approximately 50%.
The physical structure of cellulose is unusual in that it is not a single crystal, but consists of crystalline areas embedded in amorphous areas. Chemical reagents penetrate the latter more eas- ily than the former. Cellulose is virtually odorless and tasteless and is combustible, with an ignition point of approximately 450F. In some forms it is flammable. For example, railroad shipping reg- ulations require a Flammable label on such items as "burnt fiber," "burnt cotton," "wet waste pa- per," and "wet textiles." Fires have been known to occur in warehouses in which telephone books were stored. These were undoubtedly due to heat build-up in the paper caused by microbial activity
and self-sustaining oxidation.
Chemical reagents penetrate the latter more eas- ily than the former. Cellulose is virtually odorless and tasteless and is combustible, with an ignition point of approximately 450F. In some forms it is flammable. For example, railroad shipping reg- ulations require a Flammable label on such items as "burnt fiber," "burnt cotton," "wet waste pa- per," and "wet textiles." Fires have been known to occur in warehouses in which telephone books were stored. These were undoubtedly due to heat build-up in the paper caused by microbial activity and self-sustaining oxidation. See also flammable material.
The most important uses of cellulose are bulk woods of many kinds; paper, most of which is made from wood pulp; cotton products (clothing, sheeting, industrial fabrics); packaging; ranging from wooden barrels to candy pats; and as a source of ethanol (enzymatic hydrolysis) and methanol (destructive distillation of wood). Spe- cialized uses include nonwoven fabrics, medical equipment (artificial kidney), insulation and soundproofing, sausage casings, etc. Cellulose has approximately 60% of the energy content of bituminous coal; its use as a fuel has increased especially in rural locations. See also biomass.
There are many chemical modifications of cellu- lose, including its esters (cellulose acetate), ethers (methylcellulose), the nitrated product (nitrocel- lulose), as well as rayon and cellophane (from cellulose xanthate). Thus it is the basis of many plastics, fibers, coatings, lacquers, explosives, and emulsion stabilizers. Alkali cellulose an intermediate made by the action of sodium hydroxide solution on cellulose and is used for making cellulose ethers and viscose.
Cellulose exists in three forms--alpha, beta and gamma. Alpha-cellulose has the highest degree of polymerization (DP), and is the chief constitu- ent of paper pulp. It is insoluble in strong sodium hydroxide solution. The beta and gamma forms have much lower DP and are known as hemicel- lulose. Methods of determining the alpha content
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