Cellulose Fibers: Nature’s Sustainable Solution

History and Origin of Cellulose FibersCellulose fibers have been used for centuries but their commercial production began in the 19th century. Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls and is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth. It is composed of glucose units linked together in long chains. Plants produce cellulose through photosynthesis and it gives plant cells their structure and rigidity. Some of the earliest commercial cellulose fibers come from plant sources like cotton, flax, jute and ramie. Rayon, one of the first manufactured cellulose fibers, was invented in the late 19th century by adding any of several esterifying agents to cellulose. Modern Production Methods Today, there are several methods used for commercial production of Cellulose Fibers. Viscose and lyocell are the two most common processes. In viscose production, cotton linters or wood pulp are treated with carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide to create a soluble compound called cellulose xanthate. This is then dried and spun into fibers through extrusion. The lyocell process uses tertiary amines like N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) as solvents instead of harsh chemicals like in viscose. This allows the dissolution and regeneration of cellulose into fibers without derivative formation. The resulting fibers are often stronger, more durable and more environmentally friendly than viscose. Newer production methods include ionic liquids-based technologies which further improve sustainability.

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