Cellulose is a polysaccharide-type carbohydrate abundant in vegetables and therefore common in nature. It consists of up to 50% of the wood composition.
It is formed by glucose monomers, between 15 and 15,000, joined by glycosidic bonds. Thus, cellulose is a polymer of glucose.
The chemical formula of cellulose is (C6H10O5)no.
Cellulose is a polymer with a linear structure and establishes hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl groups present. In cells, cellulose molecules arrange themselves in the form of fiber bundles.
Humans cannot digest cellulose, this ability is only presented by some species of bacteria, fungi and ruminant animals.
Cellulose is synthesized in the plasma membrane of plant cells, in protein complexes with the presence of the cellulose synthase enzyme.
Roles
Cellulose is the main component of cell wall of plant cells, which gives rigidity to the plants.
Industrially, it is processed for the production of paper and fibers. It can also undergo other types of modifications and serve to make plastics.
The production of paper from cellulose is an important economic activity in Brazil.
Due to the quality of the fibers present in the wood, the main plant species used for cellulose extraction are eucalyptus and pine (pine). To guarantee the exploitation of these species, there are many forests planted to serve as raw material in the production of paper.
Learn more about polysaccharides.
How is paper produced?
The extracted wood is debarked and chopped and then boiled in water and chemical agents, resulting in a pulp.
From there, the pulp goes through a washing process, where impurities are extracted. After standing for a while, another phase begins, bleaching, in which the cellulose becomes purer.
At that moment, the pulp obtained is distributed on a table and becomes a large sheet ready for drying and pressing. Finally, the material can be rolled, cut, packed and transported.
Also know about the chitin.
Curiosity
Cellulose was discovered by the French chemist Anselme Payen, in 1838, from vegetable matter.
Read too:
- Carbohydrates or carbohydrates: what are they?
- Function and classification of carbohydrates
