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

Altered fat metabolism - metabolic response to injury, Altered Fat Metaboli...

Altered Fat Metabolism - Metabolic Response to Injury? The stored fat deposiis are mobilized and oxidized at a high rate in order to support hyper metabolism and increased gluc

Ecosystem as a unit of nature , Ecosystem as a Unit of Nature An ...

Ecosystem as a Unit of Nature An ecosystem can be visualised as a functional unit of nature representing complex interactions between living and non-living components. Th

Why are herbivores considered similar to predators, (a) Why are herbivores ...

(a) Why are herbivores considered similar to predators in the ecological context Describe? (b)   Differentiate among the following interspecific interactions  in a population :

Protist, Members of phylum animal like protist that are only free living

Members of phylum animal like protist that are only free living

Stored metabolites - seed and fruit, Stored Metabolites - Seed and Fruit ...

Stored Metabolites - Seed and Fruit In a large majority of seeds food is stored in the cells of the endosperm. In coconut, wheat and castor bean for example, it is the endospe

How different are pteridophytes from bryophytes, Q. How different are pteri...

Q. How different are pteridophytes from bryophytes regarding substance transport? Pteridophytes are tracheophyte (vascular) plants that are they have tissues specialized in con

What is the excitation threshold of a neuron, Q. What is the excitation thr...

Q. What is the excitation threshold of a neuron? How does this threshold relate to the "all-or-nothing" rule of the neural transmission? The excitation threshold of a neuron is

Explain about salivary glands in humans, Q. What is the location of the sal...

Q. What is the location of the salivary glands in humans? There are six major salivary glands and they are located one in each parotid gland, two beneath the mandibles (submand

Genetics , write about complementary genes

write about complementary genes

Pseudocoelom - metazoa, Pseudocoelom - Metazoa The platyhelminths whic...

Pseudocoelom - Metazoa The platyhelminths which do not have a body cavity surrounding the gut, have a solid type of body constitution. The mesoderm completely fills the space

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