ABSTRACT
Cellulose is the most abundant natural polysaccharide present on the surface of the earth. It is a renewable biopolymer fiber that can easily be obtained by the processing of agricultural waste and hence is more economical than any other source of fibers currently in use. The presence of hydroxyl groups allows the formation of hydrogen bonds that influence the crystalline structure as well as physical properties of cellulose. But because of the presence of these hydroxyl groups,the cellulose fibers are highly hydrophilic in nature, which is associated with a low interfacial compatibility with hydrophobic polymeric matrices, as well as with a loss of mechanical properties after moisture uptake. These difficulties can be overcome by modification of the alcoholic hydroxyl group, such as esterification, etherification, amidation, silylation and oxidation reactions.The surface functionality of cellulosic materials triggers their interactions with different chemicals and raises a considerable potential for structural, environmental, biomedical, food and pharmaceutical applications.This chapter deals with the various types of chemical functionalization of cellulose.
