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Cellulose

Cellulose
Cellulose

Several hundred to many thousands of glucose molecules linked together to form enormous chains of sugar – that’s what cellulose looks like at the molecular level. Cellulose is the most common natural polymer on earth. Polymers are large molecules made up of many similar or identical molecules.

Cellulose is a very strong fibre that is found in the cell walls of green plants, for example. Plants use solar energy to produce glucose, which they store in the form of cellulose. It works as a dietary fibre because our small intestine can’t digest it.

Cellulose for industrial use is mainly obtained from wood, cotton and hemp. It is used to make paper and viscose (artificial silk), as well as pet litter, biofuel and other applications
Last modified:12 April 2021 11.23 a.m.
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