Cellulase, the enzyme that digests cellulose, is not produced in the mammalian digestive system. However, a type of mitotic bacteria lives in the digestive system of cows, buffaloes, goats, deer, sheep etc. All these bacteria produce cellulose digesting enzyme cellulase. This enzyme aids in cellulose digestion by cleaving the β, 1-4 glycosidic bonds of cellulose. Humans cannot digest cellulose because the human digestive system lacks such mitotic bacteria. But the human diet must contain cellulose-type food. Because cellulose is essential for the production of stool. Dr. Siddiq Publications

(i) Textile industry: Cellulose is used as the main raw material for textile industry. Rayon is made from cellulose as the raw material of the fabric.
(ii) As an explosive: It is used as a nitrate explosive. Cellulose is used as raw material for making nitrocellulose. Dr. Siddiq Publications
(iii) For making furniture: Cellulose is the main material of wood and bamboo. Various types of furniture are made from bamboo and wood.
(iv) In paper industry: It is used to make filter paper and tissue paper. Cellulose insulators are made from newsprint paper in a recycling process. Cellulose insulator is an environmentally friendly coating.
(v) Digestion: Wood-boring insects use cellulose to digest wood.
(vi) In making gum: Methyl cellulose is used in making gum. Pure cellulose is mixed with water to make glue.
(vii) For making photographic film: It is used for making photographic, cellophane and celluloid.
(viii) In Biotechnology: Cellulose produced from fungi and bacteria is being used in biotechnology.
(ix) As Structural Material: Cellulose acts as the main structural material of plants. It forms leaves, stems and branches of plants. Dr. Siddiq Publications
(x) Skeletal system of plants: Cellulose provides strength and protection to plants. Cellulose is therefore called the skeletal system of plants.
(xi) Faecal formation: Most of the cellulose ingested with animal feed is excreted as faeces. Rafez relieves constipation. Cellulose is therefore essential for animal life. Dr. Siddiq Publications
(xii) Stationary phase: Cellulose is used as the stationary phase in thin layer chromatography.

Cellulose is a complex polysaccharide. It is composed of glucose molecules. Numerous glucose molecules are linked by β 1-4 glycosidic bonds to form cellulose. Cellulose is converted to glucose by hydrolysis with H2SO4 or HCl or NaOH.

(i) Cellulose is a tasteless, odorless and colorless substance.
(ii) It is chemically inert, but converts to glucose on wet analysis with strong acids.
(iii) It is insoluble in water and organic solvents. Dr. Siddique Publications
(iv) Its molecular weight ranges from 2 lakh to several lakh daltons.
(v) It is non-toxic and non-oxidizing.
(vi) It shows no color in iodine solution.
(vii) It is tough and fibrous.
(viii) It has no nutritional value.
(ix) Cellulose contains 44.41% carbon, 44.4% oxygen and 6.2% hydrogen.

94% in cotton, 90% in linen or linseed, 90% in cellulose, 30-40% in grass, 60% in wood, 45% in dry hemp fiber, 58% in jute, 40% in sugarcane bagasse, 42% in wheat straw and 40-70% in organic soil. remains

Cellulose is a complex homopolysaccharide. The cell wall of autophagous plants is composed of cellulose. Cellulose is the most abundant organic material on Earth. Glucose is obtained by wet analysis of cellulose with hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide. Cellulose molecules contain β-1-4 glycosidic linkages. Neither animals nor humans can digest cellulose because they have no enzymes to break these β-1-4 glycosidic bonds. French chemist Anselme Payen (1838) discovered cellulose. Kobayashi & Shoda (1992) first produced synthetic cellulose. Dr. Siddiq Publications

Maltose is a disaccharide. It is a reducing sugar. Its molecular symbol is C12H22O11. It is sweet in taste and its sweetness is 30-60% of sugar. Maltose is produced by partial distillation of sugar. Maltose is formed by the partial breakdown of starch. Two molecules of glucose are joined by α-1,4 linkage to form maltose. Maltose is used in malting barley to make beer.

Cellobiose is a disaccharide. It is a reducing sugar. Its molecular symbol is C12H22O11. Cellobiose is produced by the partial breakdown of cellulose or lignin. Two molecules of glucose are joined by β-1,4 linkage to form cellobiose. Cellobiose is broken down into glucose under the influence of emulsin enzymes and acids. Bromine oxidizes cellobiose with water to form cellobionic acid. Dr. Siddique Publications
Function: Cellobiose acts as a structural component of cell wall.

Lactose is a disaccharide. Its molecular symbol is C12H22O11. Milk contains 2-4% lactose. One molecule of glucose and one molecule of galactose are joined by a glycosidic bond to form lactose. Lactase enzyme breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose. Dr. Siddiq Publications

Cellobiose is a disaccharide. It is a reducing sugar. Its molecular symbol is C12H22O11. Cellobiose is produced by the partial breakdown of cellulose or lignin. Two molecules of glucose are joined by β-1,4 linkage to form cellobiose. Cellobiose is broken down into glucose under the influence of emulsin enzymes and acids. Bromine oxidizes cellobiose with water to form cellobionic acid. Dr. Siddiq Publications
Function: Cellobiose acts as a structural component of cell wall.