Highlighting the properties of cellulose, justify cellulose as an effective water filter.
Answer:-
Cellulose: a complex carbohydrate, or polysaccharide, consisting of 3,000 or more β – glucose units joined together by β-1,4-glycosidic linkages.
It is extremely abundant, easily renewable, and biodegradable. Due to inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups of the neighboring cellulose chains, cellulose is insoluble in water, despite being hydrophilic, and is difficult to dissolve with common organic solvents.
Cellulose has several properties that make it effective water filter:
- High Porosity: This allows them to efficiently remove impurities and contaminants from water.
- Good mechanical strength: This enables them to maintain their structure and perform effectively over time.
- Chemical resistance: Resistant to most chemicals, including acids and bases, and can be used in a wide range of water treatment applications.
- Large surface area: Thisenhances their filtration capabilities and reduces the frequency of filter replacement.
- Biodegradability: made from a biodegradable material. This reduces their negative impact on the environment compared to synthetic polymer filters.
- Cost-effective: Affordable than traditional synthetic polymer filters, making them accessible to a wider range of consumers and communities.
- Renewable resource: Cellulose-based water filters are made from a renewable resource, cellulose, reducing the dependency on non-renewable resources.