Extraction and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from kelp (Laminaria japonica) waste
Zhenhua Liu, Wei Xie, Lan Ye, Chaojie Chen · 2026
Read Extraction and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from kelp (Laminaria japonica) waste by Zhenhua Liu, Wei Xie, Lan Ye, Chaojie Chen (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/plos-pone-0331699.txt.
Description
Zhenhua Liu and three colleagues turn kelp waste into a useful industrial material in this 2026 study. Kelp farming in East Asia leaves mountains of residue after alginate extraction. That residue is rich in cellulose. The team first extracted kelp cellulose. Dilute acid then broke it down into microcrystalline cellulose, a powder used in food, drugs, and cosmetics.
Careful testing showed the process preserved the cellulose's basic chemistry. Its natural crystal form survived the acid bath. Crystallinity rose slightly, and heat resistance improved. The particles came out as small flakes rather than the rods seen in commercial products. Chain length and yield, about eighty-five percent, closely matched the commercial standard. Seaweed waste, normally a disposal problem, could thus become a saleable ingredient with the right processing.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Zhenhua Liu, Wei Xie, Lan Ye, Chaojie Chen |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 21475 |
| LICENSE | CC_BY |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | PLOS |