what is cellulose

Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula (C6H10O5)n, a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of β(1→4) linked D-glucose units. It is the main polysaccharide in the plant cell wall and is the most abundant organic compound on earth. Cellulose is mainly used to produce paperboard and paper, and smaller quantities are converted into a wide variety of derivative products such as cellophane and rayon. Conversion of cellulose from energy crops into biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol is under development as a renewable fuel source. Cellulose is also a common food additive, taken from wood or waste from the production of plant foods, such as oat hulls or peanut and almond skins. Cellulose fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods as part of a plant’s cell walls, and is also sold as supplements. Cellulose has no taste, is odorless, is hydrophilic, is insoluble in water and most organic solvents, is chiral, and is biodegradable.