An electron diffraction study of the crystal structure of native cellulose

Abstract

The crystal lattice of native cellulose from four sources has been investigated by electron diffraction techniques. The four sources were: cotton, ramie, a bacterial cellulose (Acetobacter xylinum), and an algal cellulose (Valonia ventricosa). Evidence for the existence of at least two different unit cells is provided. There were no systematic absences of odd-order OkO reflections in any of the cellulose patterns, therefore, it was concluded that neither cellulose cell falls into the P21 space group.