Fibre Chemistry Flashcards
What layer of the fibre contains the most cellulose?
The S3 layer. it gradually reduces when moving towards the middle lamella
Roughly how much lignin in hardwoods?
21%
Roughly how much lignin in softwoods?
25%
Roughly what percent of wood are extractives? (terpenes, resin acids, fatty acids, and phenols)
2-8%
What are the 2 types of carbohydrate in wood? And what is their percentage of the wood
Cellulose 45% and hemicellulose 35%HW 25% SW
What percent of wood is cellulose?
45%
What is the function of cellulose?
To absorb mechanical force, especially tensile force
What is the function of lignin?
To absorb compressive forces, to protect against hydrophilic attacks, to act as a glue
What is the function of hemicellulose?
Act as a glue and give flexibility
What is the function of proteins?
Cell division
Where in the cell wall is the highest lignin and hemicellulose content?
The content increases gradually growing out from the S3 layer towards the middle lamella
How do you determine the degree of polymerisation (number of repeating polymer units)
Viscosity measurements
Which is harder for solvents/reagents to penetrate, the amorphous or the crystalline regions in a cellulose microfibril?
The crystalline regions are difficult to penetrate. The amorphous regions however are readily penetrated and susceptible to hydrolysis reactions.
What is the difference between pentose and hexose?
Pentose is a 5 carbon sugar whereas hexose contains 6 carbons
List the hexoses (3)
Glucose mannose galactose
List the pentoses (2)
xylose arabinose
What are the special properties of hemicellulose?
Soft and tough
Relatively hydrophilic
Soluble in alkali
More easily degraded by acids and bases than cellulose
What does hemicellulose function as?
Softening agent in cellulose fibrils and as connection between cellulose and lignin in wood. It is also a hydrophilic component which help the biological degradation of wood.
In simple - acts as flexible glue between cellulose fibrils and lignin
What is a simple way of describing hemicelluloses function
It acts as the glue between cellulose fibrils and lignin