Phytochemical Dictionary: A Handbook of Bioactive Compounds from Plants, Second Edition
α-Cellulose; Microcrystalline cellulose
The fibrous component of plant cell walls, with cotton its purest form (over 90%); this is the most abundant carbon compound of the plant kingdom.
Prevents caking in foods.
The microcrystalline form acts as a binder-disintegrator in tablets and as a stationary phase in chromatography. Cellulose is acetylated and compounded for thermoplastics, is regenerated as rayon, and is nitrated for explosives.
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