hydrocellulose

[hahy-druh-sel-yuh-lohs]

noun

1. a gelatinous substance obtained by the partial hydrolysis of cellulose, used chiefly in the manufacture of paper, mercerized cotton, and viscose rayon.

hydrocellulose

/ -ˌləʊz, ˌhaɪdrəʊˈsɛljʊˌləʊs /

noun

1. a gelatinous material consisting of hydrated cellulose, made by treating cellulose with water, acids, or alkalis: used in making paper, viscose rayon, and mercerized cotton

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrocellulose¹

First recorded in 1875–80; hydro- ¹ + cellulose

Example Sentences

It is of the utmost importance that the final washing should be as thorough as possible, in order to completely remove the acid, for if only small quantities of the latter are left in the goods, they are liable to become tender in the subsequent drying, through formation of hydrocellulose.

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Hydrochloric acid produces a friable mass of “hydrocellulose,” probably C12H22O11, insoluble in water, but readily attacked by alkalis, with the production of soluble derivatives; some dextrose is formed in the original reaction.

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From these and some other substances, the following percentage yields of furfuraldehyde were obtained: Hydrocellulose, 0.854; oxycellulose, 2.113; reduced cellulose, 0.860; starch, 0.800; bleached cotton, 1.800; oxycellulose, prepared by means of chromic acid, 3.500.

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It is considered probable that the cellulose nitrates are hydrocellulose derivatives, and experimental evidence in favour of this conclusion is supplied by the results of 'nitrating' the celluloses and their oxy- and hydro- derivatives.

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Thus a 10 per cent. solution of sulphuric acid used at a temperature of 80° C. begins to act on cotton after about five minutes' immersion, in half an hour there is a perceptible amount of disintegration, but the complete conversion of the cotton into hydrocellulose requires one hour's immersion.

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