Define the functionality of cellulose, Biology

Assignment Help:

Functionality of cellulose

Cellulose has many uses as an anticaking agent, emulsifier, stabilizer, dispersing agent, thickener and gelling agent, but these are generally subsidiary to its most important use of holding water. Dry amorphous cellulose absorbs water becoming soft and flexible. Some of this water is non-freezing but most is  simply trapped. Less water is bound by direct hydrogen bonding if the cellulose has high crystallinity but some fibrous cellulose products can hold on to considerable water in pores and its  typically straw-like cavities. As such water is supercoolable, this effect may protect against ice damage. Cellulose can give improved volume and texture, particularly as a fat replacer in sauces and dressings but its insolubility means that all products will be cloudy. 

Swelled bacterial cellulose (eg. Acetobacter xylinum) exhibits pseudoplastic viscosity, like xanthan gels but this viscosity is not lost at high temperatures and low shear rates as the cellulose can retain its structure. Where individual cellulose strands are surrounded by water, they are flexible and do not present contiguous hydrophobic surfaces.

 


Related Discussions:- Define the functionality of cellulose

Counselling at diagnosis, Q. Counselling at Diagnosis? A newly diagnose...

Q. Counselling at Diagnosis? A newly diagnosed case of diabetes will have lots of questions and will be confused regarding the treatment and complications of the diabetes. It i

How to defibrillate, How to Defibrillate? Three shocks should be given...

How to Defibrillate? Three shocks should be given initially in a 200J - 200J - 360J sequence. For most recoverable situations, 200J would be adequate and results in least myco

What are coacervates, What are coacervates what property do they have that ...

What are coacervates what property do they have that suggests they could be a primitive cell.

Cardiac catheterization of mitral stenosis, Q. Cardiac Catheterization of m...

Q. Cardiac Catheterization of mitral stenosis? Cardiac catheterization is rarely needed to diagnose mitral stenosis. An end diastolic gradient more than 5 mm Hg. across mitral

Aerotolerant anaerobes, Aerotolerant anaerobes are incapable of aerobic res...

Aerotolerant anaerobes are incapable of aerobic respiration, but can nevertheless grow in the presence of air. Many lactic acid bacteria fall into this category. They can only gene

The mitochondria contain their own dna, Why do you think the mitochondria c...

Why do you think the mitochondria contain their own DNA (circular) and have a double membrane?

Define proteolytic enzymes, Proteolytic enzymes They catalyze the hydro...

Proteolytic enzymes They catalyze the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in other proteins. In order to prevent them doing generalized damage to all cellular proteins, they are often

What are those phyla, Q Beings from four phyla of the animal kingdom "breat...

Q Beings from four phyla of the animal kingdom "breath" (do gas exchange) by diffusion. Which are those phyla? How is this type of respiration associated to features present in tho

Associated foods with escherichia coli, Q. Associated Foods with escherichi...

Q. Associated Foods with escherichia coli? Associated Foods: E. coli is the etiologic agent of food poisoning involves variety of foods such as cream pie, mashed potatoes, cr

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd