This document discusses the history, manufacture, properties, grades, uses, advantages and disadvantages of cellophane. Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made from regenerated cellulose that is useful for food packaging due to its low permeability. It is produced through a process involving dissolving cellulose in alkali and treating it with carbon disulfide to form viscose, which is then passed through acid and salt baths to form the cellulose film. Cellophane is biodegradable, transparent, and acts as a barrier to air, oils and bacteria, making it suitable for packaging foods. However, it also has some disadvantages like poor performance at low temperatures.

1. Shreyas H K
22FBT209
1st M.Tech (Food Biotechnology).
Subject- Food packaging Science
. and Technology.

2.  History.
 Introduction.
 Manufacture.
 Properties.
 Characteristics.
 Grades of cellophane.
 Cellophane in Food packing.
 Advantages and disadvantage of cellophane.

3.  Cellophane film was invented by Jacqus E
Brendenberger in 1908. a Swiss textile
engineer who got the idea for the clear
protective packaging.

4.  Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated
cellulose(92-98%).
 Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria, and liquid water
makes it useful for food packaging.
 It is highly permeable to water vapour, but may be coated with
nitrocellulose lacquer to prevent this.
 It is compostable and biodegradable, and can be obtained from
biomaterials.

5.  The cellulose is dissolved in alkali in a process known as
mercerization.
 Mercerized pulp is treated with carbon disulfide to make the
solution called viscous.
 Then viscous is then passed through a chamber having a bath of
dilute sulfuric acid and sodium sulfate to convert the viscose into
cellulose film.

6.  The film is then passed through
several more bath chamber,
 1 To remove sulfur,
 2 To bleach the film,
 3 To add softening materials such as
glycerin to prevent the film from
becoming brittle.
 The treated film is passed through
dryers.
Conversion of raw cellulose to viscose.

7.  Adhesive.
 Transperent.
 Biodegradable.
 High melting point.
 Bacterial insulation.
 Low permiablity to air, oil etc.
 Antistatic in nature .

8.  Cellophane is derived from natural sources such as wood,
Unlike plastic, cellophane can’t be recycled, but it is
biodegradable.
 Cellophane is transparent, odour-resistant, tough, grease-
proof, and impermeable to gases.
 Cellophane is compostable. Cellophane is also safe to compost
at home, and it does not need a professional composting
facility.
 If cellophane got coated it has the water repellent capacity.

9.  Cellophane is biodegradable. If not coated, it takes 28–60 days for
cellulose packing to biodegrade. Biodegradation takes 80–120 days
when the product is coated. If it is coated, it degrades in water in
about a month, and if it is not coated, it degrades in about ten days.
 Bio-based and sustainable. Cellophane is a sustainable product
made from bio-based, renewable resources since it is made from
cellulose derived from plants.
 Cellophane is inexpensive. Cellulose packaging has been a
byproduct of the paper industry since 1912. Cellophane is a low-cost
alternative to other environmentally friendly plastics.

10.  Uncoated.
 vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer coated (semipermeable).
 nitrocellulose coated (semipermeable).
 PVDC coated (good barrier, but not fully biodegradable).

12.  Biodegradable cellophane bags repel moisture and water vapour,
making them ideal for displaying and storing food.
 Cellophane bags are excellent for baked goods, nuts, and other oily
meals since they naturally resist oils and fats.
 Cellophane is a heat-sealable material, Food products loose tea, clothes,
cosmetics, and presents are packaged well in cellophane bags.

13.  Transparent cellophane helps businesses to showcase their products to
their full potential while also allowing buyers to examine the goods
before making a purchase.
 Cellophane bags are affordable; they are an excellent solution for small
enterprises even in candy markets.
 Since Cellophane is also easy to tear, reseal and print,Cellophane bags
were often used to package Fruits,Meat,Vegetables, Dairy products and
convenience foods.

14.  Cellulosic film applications include tapes and labels.
 Photographic film.
 And coatings for paper, glass, and plastic.
 Medical applications for cellulosic films include dialysis membranes.
 Used for laminate.

15.  Biodegradeble.
 Renewable.
 Less energy to produce.
 Reduced emission of CO2.
 Flexible.
 Easily resist air,oil, grease etc.

16.  Cellophane performs poor at low temperatures – a must for food
packaging.
 It also has a limited shelf life.
 Also, cellophane could end up releasing methane, a powerful global-
warming gas, if lodged in a landfill that lacks a methane recovery
system.
 In addition to using wood as a raw material, cellophane production
requires toxic carbon disulfide.

17.  Igor S. Makarov,, in The Science and Technology of Flexible
Packaging, 2017.
 Laurence W. McKeen, in Permeability Properties of Plastics and
Elastomers (Fourth Edition), 2017.
 Michael Niaounakis, in Recycling of Flexible Plastic Packaging,
2020.
 Igor S. Makarov in Structure, Morphology, and Permeability of
Cellulose Films, 2022.