ABSTRACT
Cellulose is probably one of the most extensively investigated polymers: the interest for this abundant and renewable raw material spread at the beginning of the last century and renewed over the past 10 years in the frame of the conversion of the present petrol-based economy to an integrated bio-economy. In this context, cellulose has a major role to play, not only because of its availability and fascinating properties (biodegradability, biocompatibility, low density, high mechanical properties, etc.), but also because, unlike other raw materials such as starch, it is not edible so its use does not compete with human nutrition.
