ABSTRACT
Consequentially, the same number of hydroxyl groups is present on each side of the cellulose chain resulting in a symmetrical structure, which promotes the formation of hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions between different cellulose chains (Somerville et al., 2004). Up to 30 of these cellulose chains assemble to form the elementary fibril. Due to the huge numbers of intermolecular interactions resulting from the parallel alignment of the elementary fibrils, a highly organized, crystalline structure is developed, which is designated as microfibril. These microfibrils are further linked to lignin via the hemicelluloses to form the plant cell wall. In order to subject cellulose to biotechnical processes it is mandatory to make the single cellulose chains accessible to the cellulolytic enzymes.
