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

Explain the effect on minerals of the human milk, Explain the effect on Min...

Explain the effect on Minerals of the Human milk? There appears to be no relationship between dietary intake and concentrations in milk for copper, iron or zinc. Iron supplemen

Fate map - gastrulation in chick, Fate Map - Gastrulation in Chick All...

Fate Map - Gastrulation in Chick All the three main germinal layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) are made from cells initially located in the epiblast in area pellucida, hen

Explain the glass test tubes - food microbiology, Explain the Glass Test Tu...

Explain the Glass Test Tubes - Food Microbiology Sterile glass tubes are used for culturing microorganisms in liquid or solid media. Sterility in tubes is maintained by using c

What is represented by the cellular secretion, Q. What is represented by th...

Q. What is represented by the cellular secretion? Cell secretion is the removal to the exterior of substances produced by the cell for instance, hormones, mucus, and sweat, so

What are bacteria, What are bacteria? Bacteria are unicellular and prok...

What are bacteria? Bacteria are unicellular and prokaryotic beings. Bacteria have simple organization; they present an , plasma membrane, external cell wall, circular DNA withi

Use recombinant dna technology, name two examples of biotechnology that use...

name two examples of biotechnology that use recombinant DNA technology and two examples that do nnot

Complementation of genes, how would one determine that the wild type phenot...

how would one determine that the wild type phenotype of a certain trait is due to the action of one or two genes?

Mechanism of urine formation, MECHANISM OF URINE FORMATION - Production...

MECHANISM OF URINE FORMATION - Production of urine is uripoisis or diuresis. First of all it was explained by Kushney. Nephron separates acidic urine from basic blood, so ma

State the purposes of dressing, PURPOSES OF DRESSING A dressing can hav...

PURPOSES OF DRESSING A dressing can have a number of purposes, depending on the type, severity and position of the wound, although all purposes are focused towards promoting re

How could an adult lose billions of cells, How can an adult lose billions o...

How can an adult lose billions of cells from all parts of the body each day and still survive?

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