A microdetermination of cellulose in studies with cellulase

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Abstract
A micromethod is described for the quantitative determination of cellulose. The cellulose is washed with water or other solvents on a sintered-glass filter stick. The cellulose is then oxidized stoicheiometrically with H2SO4-dichromate reagent, the excess of dichromate being determined titrimetrically or, more conveniently, colorimetrically. The cellulose is calculated as anhydroglucose from a glucose calibration curve. The method covers the range from 0.2 mg of cellulose, with an average recovery of 97% (range 95-100%), to 1.1 mg of cellulose, with an average recovery of 100% (range 98-102%). The applicability of the method to different forms of cellulose (cellulose powder, swollen cellulose, hydrocellulose and dewaxed cotton fibers) has been verified. The procedure has been used to determine cellulolysis by the cellulase of Myrothecium verrucaria.