Cellulosic materials, biological

The author is unaware of any commerical polymers that are specifically designed to degrade oxidatively, although oxidation may be involved in association with hydrolytic and biological degradation. It may be of interest to note that before World War II products known as rubbones were produced by degrading natural rubber with cobalt linoleate in the presence of cellulosic materials to produce low molecular weight, fluid oxidised natural rubber (Section 30.4). 

The sea squirts or tunicates are fascinating marine creatures, their name being derived from the tunic made of cellulosic material that surrounds the body of the animal. In 1911, Henze discovered vanadium in the blood of Phallusia mammillata C.343 He later found the same with other ascidians (a class of tunicates). In vanadium-accumulating species, most vanadium is located in the vacuoles—vanadophores—of certain types of blood cells—the vanadocytes. The concentration in the vanadophore can be as high as 1M and this value must be compared with concentrations of the order of 2 x 10-8 M for vanadium in sea water.344 Kustin et al. have reviewed the work done to understand the efficient accumulation and the possible biological roles of the metal.345... 

Lignocellulosic materials have a common basic structure, but vary greatly in chemical composition and physical structure.4 Typically, these materials contain 30 percent to 60 percent cellulose, 10 percent to 30 percent hemicellulose (polyoses), and 10 percent to 20 percent ligmn. Cellulose provides strength and flexibility, while lignin supports and protects the cellulose from biological and chemical attack. Hemicellulose bonds lignin to cellulose. 

Nevertheless, cellulose fatty esters with low DS values show other qualities, such as a high hydrophobicity. The development of water-repellent cellulosic materials (i.e., cotton, wood), has led to interesting applications in the textile and wood industries. For instance, the direct esterification of timber with fatty acids (and their derivatives) has resulted in extraordinary outdoor durability and resistance to biological attack (e.g. rotting, termites). Industrial exploitation of this technology has recently been conducted in France [WoodProtect by Lapeyre (Magne et al., 2003)]. In this case, the water-repellence conferred to wood and the lack of recognition from predator enzymes account for these properties. 

It would be interesting, therefore, to devise technologies that would allow protective barriers to be applied to such cellulose materials as paper and eardboard while preserving their original abihty to be degraded biologically and to be recycled. 

Uses Dye for fabric, leather, cotton, cellulosic materials, paper, silk, wool and nylon fibers biological stain prod, of aq. printing inks reportedly in hair dyes Regulatory Not presently used in cosmetic industry... 

Updegraff, D.M. (1969). Semimicro Determination of Cellulose in Biological Materials. Analytical Biochemistry, Vol. 32, pp. 420 - 424... 

Farrar D, Elesher P, Skinner M et al (1995) Water absorbing polymers. US Patent 5,384,343 Crawford RL (1981) Lignin biodegradation and transformation. Wiley, New York Updegraff DM (1969) Semimicro determination of cellulose in biological materials. Anal Biochem 32 420-424... 

Biological enzymatic conversion of glucose by fermentation also has been extensively studied for the production of many products one of the most important is bioethanol. Many bacteria and fungi could produce enzymes for the hydrolysis of cellulosic material. These microorganisms can be aerobic or anaerobic, mesophillic or thermophillic. ... 

Updegraff D.M. 1969. Semi-micro determination of cellulose in biological materials. Anal Biochem 32 420-424. 

Cellulosic material is the most abundant biopolymer on the planet, and it represents the biggest portion of biological waste materials (Somerville 2006). 

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