Synonyms:
Wool Cellulose, Chemical Wood Pulp
Biological source:
Cellulose wadding is prepared from bleached sulphite wood pulp obtained from the wood of vanous Conifer belonging to the family Pinaceae.
Geographical source:
Supplies of Cellulose wadding come chiefly from the U.S.A., Canada and Germany
Macroscopical and microscopical characters:
The beaten wood pulp is strained through the wire of a machine and thus a fine web of fibres is left on top of the wire. This web after being dried and crepped gives a thin, soft, absorbent sheet. About 30 of these sheets laid together make a Cellulose wadding. Thus it occurs as a felted sheet, about 1 cm thick, 1000 square centimetre of which weighs about 4. 7 g. It is almost white in colour as cotton, but harsher in texture. It breaks quickly when pulled (distinction from Cotton wool). It is very absorbent and sinks in water more rapidly than cotton wool.
Characteristic wood elements are present in the fibres of Cellulose wading. These elements are mainly tracheids with bordered pits and characteristic medullary ray cells· (see Fig. 74). Cellulose wadding is soluble in 60 percent cold sulphuric acid and CUOXAM.
Constituents:
Cellulose wadding consists almost entirely of pure cellulose.
Uses:
Uses of Cellulose wadding are similar to those of absorbent Cotton wool. For certain purposes it is preferred to absorbent cotton wool. For certain purposes it is preferred to absorbent cotton wool because of its superior absorbent property and the readiness with which it disintegrates.