Cellobiose
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| Cellobiose | |
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| Molecular formula | C12H22O11 |
| Molar mass | 342.30 |
| CAS number | [] |
| Solubility | 12 g/100mL |
| PubChem | |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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Cellobiose is a disaccharide subunit of cellulose composed of two glucose molecules linked in a β(1→4) bond; which can be hydrolyzed by bacteria or cationic exchangers.[1]
Cellobiose is an indispensable part of fabric especially cotton, jute, and other cellulosic material.
As perceived, cellobiose has six free -OH bonds which make it strongly attached to its nearby fibre. That is also the reason why cotton (a cellobiose polymer) absorbs huge amounts of water and the strength of cotton also increases due to the alignment of several fibre strands.
Cellobiose is also an essential part of all plant structures. Its strong -OH bond interactions with neighboring cellobiose molecules contributes greatly to the plant's structural resilience. Most mammal do not possess the enzyme needed to break down cellobiose into useable energy but some insects such as termites possess the needed enzyme.
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