Importance of cellulose

About one third of the world's production of  purified cellulose is  used as the base material for a number of water-soluble derivatives with predesigned and wide ranging properties. Methylcellulose (made by methylating about 30% of the hydroxyl groups) is thermogelling i.e. forming gels above a critical. Such gels break down on cooling causing the minimum solubility for non-polar gases. Hydrophobic saccharides become less soluble as the temperature increases. This property is useful in forming films as barriers to water loss and for holding on to small gas bubbles. Hydroxypropyl cellulose possesses good surface activity but does not gel as it forms open helical coils. Another important derivative of cellulose is carboxymethylcellulose. Let us learn about its properties and food applications