What is cellulose powder

What is cellulose powder?

Cellulose powder is a kind of polymer compound extracted from plant cell walls and processed into powder products. It is a form of cellulose, widely used in chemical, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, textile and paper and other industries. Cellulose powder has become an indispensable raw material in modern industry due to its unique physical and chemical properties and versatility. In this paper, the definition, production process, physical and chemical properties and application fields of cellulose powder are analyzed in detail.

1. Cellulose Powder Definition and Source

Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls, accounting for about 40% of the dry weight of plants. It is a linear polysaccharide chain linked by glucose through β-1, 4-glycoside bonds, with a high degree of crystallinity and regular molecular arrangement. Cellulose powder is a powdered product made of cellulose after physical or chemical treatment. Its main sources include wood (such as pine, poplar), cotton, bamboo fiber, bagasse and reeds and other plant raw materials.

2. cellulose powder production process

The production process of cellulose powder mainly includes four steps: selection of raw materials, pretreatment, extraction of cellulose and drying and crushing.

1. Selection of raw materials: the selection of suitable plant raw materials is the key to the production of high quality cellulose powder. Common raw materials include wood pulp, cotton pulp and bamboo pulp, which are high in cellulose and easy to process.

2. Pretreatment: The raw materials are pretreated by cleaning, soaking and cooking to remove impurities and non-cellulose components and improve the purity of cellulose.

3. Cellulose extraction: The separation of cellulose from raw materials by chemical methods (e. g., alkaline cooking) or mechanical methods (e. g., refining). Subsequently, the pigment and other impurities are further removed by bleaching and washing.

4. Drying and crushing: The extracted cellulose is removed from moisture by a drying device, and then subjected to crushing treatment to prepare cellulose powder.

3. CELLULOSE POWDER PHYSICAL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Cellulose powder, as a polysaccharide substance, has the following physical and chemical properties:

1. Solubility: Cellulose powder has poor solubility in water, but can be partially dissolved under certain conditions (such as high temperature and acidic or alkaline environment). This property makes it useful as a thickener and stabilizer in the food and cosmetic industries.

2. Viscosity and thixotropy: The cellulose powder solution has a high viscosity and thixotropy, that is, it will become thicker when standing, and the viscosity will decrease when stirring. This property makes it useful as a thickener and suspending agent in paints and cosmetics.

3. Crystallinity and thermal stability: Cellulose powder has a high degree of crystallinity, giving it good thermal stability and mechanical strength. At high temperatures, cellulose powder is not easily decomposed and is suitable for industrial applications in high temperature environments.

4. cellulose powder application field

Cellulose powder is widely used in many industries because of its unique physical and chemical properties:

1. Food industry: Cellulose powder is used as a thickener, stabilizer and emulsifier in the food industry. For example, adding cellulose powder to ice cream, jams and baked goods can improve the texture and taste of the product, while increasing the fiber content and promoting digestive health.

2. Pharmaceutical industry: In the pharmaceutical field, cellulose powder is used as a disintegrant, binder and filler for tablets and capsules. For example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) is a common cellulose derivative widely used in tablet manufacture.

3. Cosmetics industry: Cellulose powder is used as a thickening agent, suspending agent and stabilizer in cosmetics. For example, the addition of cellulose powder to emulsions and creams can improve the stability and feel of the product.

4. Textile industry: Cellulose powder is used as textile pulp and finishing agent in the textile industry. For example, cellulose pulp is used in fabric printing and dyeing to improve the adhesion of dyes and the fastness of fabrics.

5. Paper industry: In the field of papermaking, cellulose powder is used as a paper reinforcing agent and filler. For example, the addition of cellulose powder can improve the strength and smoothness of the paper while reducing costs.

5. Cellulose Powder's Future Development Trend

With the enhancement of environmental awareness and the demand for sustainable development, the application prospect of cellulose powder is broader. Researchers are developing cellulose-based materials, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose-based biomaterials, which have high strength, low density and degradability, and are expected to be widely used in packaging, composite materials and biomedical fields.

The modification of cellulose powder is also an important direction. Through chemical modification (such as carboxymethylation and hydroxypropylation), more functional properties can be given to cellulose powder, and its application field can be further expanded.

Conclusion

Cellulose powder as an important industrial raw material, with its unique physical and chemical properties and a wide range of applications, has become an indispensable material in modern industry. With the progress of science and technology and the increase of environmental protection demand, the application potential of cellulose powder will be further released, bringing more innovation and value to many industries.