Relationships Between Cell-Wall Composition and Cell-Wall Density

Abstract

The alpha-cellulose content, holocellulose content and crystallinity index were measured for thirteen hardwood and five softwood samples, for which both cell-wall substance and cell-wall densities had been measured in an earlier study. Direct relationships were found between crystallinity index, alpha-cellulose content, and cell-wall density. A simple method of mixtures was used to relate the constituent densities to the cell-wall substance density. Attempts to rationalize the difference between these calculated densities and the measured cell-wall substance densities suggested that the density of one or more of the cell-wall constituents is appreciably different, in situ , than that measured on the material removed from the cell wall.