Page 212 - Chemical and process design handbook

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CELLULOSE

Cellulose is the primary substance of which the walls of vegetable cells are
constructed and is largely composed of glucose residues. It may be
obtained from wood or derived in very high purity from cotton fibers,
which are about 92% pure cellulose.
The important fiber rayon is regenerated cellulose from wood pulp that
is in a form more easily spun into fibers. Cellophane film is regenerated
cellulose made into film. One method of regeneration is formation of xan-
thate groups from selected hydroxyl groups of cellulose, followed by
hydrolysis back to hydroxy groups.
Cellulose acetate and triacetate may be used as plastics or spun into
fibers for textiles. They are made by the reaction of cellulose with acetic
anhydride.

See Cellulose Acetate, Cellulose Nitrate.

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