Cellulose food casing, cellulose composition, and production method therefor

摘要

The present invention provides a seamless tubular film of nonderivatized cellulose precipitated from an extruded thermoplastic composition derived from an amine oxide solvent and substantially open-ended fibrillated softwood fibers. The present invention also provides a composition for use in the manufacture of a cellulose food casing, which includes substantially open-ended fibrillated softwood fibers having a mean fiber length of less than about 2.0 mm and a solvent. Further provided is a method of preparing a cellulose solution suitable for extrusion as a seamless tubular film. The cellulose composition is prepared by providing fibrillated softwood fibers having a mean fiber length of about 2.0 mm; dicing or shredding in the fibers to produce a pulp of substantially open-ended fibrillated softwood fibers having a mean fiber length less than 2.0 mm and then dissolving the pulp in a suitable solvent to produce the cellulose solution. In addition, the present invention provides a method of preparing a cellulose food casing from a cellulose solution of the present invention by extruding the solution as a seamless tube which is passed into a nonsolvent bath. The amine oxide solvent is substantially removed from the extruded tube to produce a cellulose tube that is substantially free of the amine oxide and then drying the cellulose tube to produce the cellulose food casing.