26 - Biochemical investigation of cellulosic and ligneous materials in museum collections

Abstract

Cellulose is the main structural component of plant cell walls. It is recycled relatively quickly which emphasizes both its susceptibility to attack by organisms and the range of organisms able to do so and utilize the breakdown products. It occurs as the major constituent of wood (and thence by processing, to paper and chipboard), and similarly, as plant fibres used in textiles; for example flax and jute are phloem fibres, sisal and manila are leaf fibres and cotton is made up from seed fibres. Cellulose is often chemically modified in the production of derivative forms for particular uses. Such uses are textiles (rayon is regenerated cellulose), packaging films (such as cellophane), photographic film (cellulose nitrate and acetate), and as thickeners, fillers and extenders (eg. carboxymethyl cellulose) in adhesives foods and emulsion paints. Many of these forms of cellulose are susceptible to biological attack. This depends on the presence of suitable environmental conditions for colonization by organisms and also on the physical and chemical form of the cellulose which will vary depending on the type of product being made.