Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

We are planning to make a cellulose-based plastic from Water Hyacinth. Please give us suggestions about the process or the methodology of making one. Thanks!

Hi ,

There are quite a number of plastics that have been made from cellulose historically. Look into nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate. Rayon, cellophane, among others. Here is a historical summary:

http://www.packagingtoday.com/introcelluloid.htm

Some information on making rayon and other cellulose plastics:

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Cellul ... -Fiber.htm

Some information on cellulose acetate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose_acetate

The following paper on making cellulose acetate from agricultural byproducts should be useful:
http://ddr.nal.usda.gov/bitstream/10113 ... 828579.pdf

This sounds like a very interesting project. Have fun with it!

Best regards,
Barrett Tomlinson

Barrett Tomlinson, thanks for the reply! It was a great help!