Functionalised Cellulose Materials

This dissertation focuses on research conducted for the enzymatic functionalisation of cellulose using commercially available enzymes. Focusing on the 12 principles of green chemistry, the reactions of cellulose substrates have been designed to minimise waste production, use renewable feedstocks while employing catalysis for cellulose modification rather than stoichiometry. The functional groups investigated in this project are alcohols, carboxylic acids, long chain alkyl esters and amides. Applications for enzyme modified cellulose were investigated through characterisation and functional testing using various methods.