CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT

PREPARATION OF RAYON THREADS

(Cuprammonium Process)

JYOTHI SREE.P
XII/D
2023-24
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Jyothi Sree. P of class XII D of

VIDYANIKETAN PUBLIC SCHOOL has successfully
completed her Chemistry project titled
“PREPARATION F RAYON THREADS" prescribed by
CBSE towards the fulfillment of the AISSCE course
during the academic year 2023-24. This project is
certified to be the bonafide work of the student.

DATE:

Teacher in charge Principal

_______________ ________________

External Examiner Internal Examiner

________________ _______________
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express our gratitude to our principal

Ms. Vasuma S Achar by thanking her for providing
us with the opportunity to conduct this experiment.
I also acknowledge our teacher Mrs.Saritha for their
valuable guidance which helped us through the
course of this project in research and completion of
the same. I would like to extend our gratitude to
Mr.Lalith for helping me find resources and navigate
the lab and helping me in the completion of the
project
 INDEX
SL.NO TITLE PAGE.NO
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 AIM 3
3 APPARATUS 4
4 PRINCIPLE & THEORY 5
5 PROCEDURE 6
6 OBSERVATION 7
7 RESULT 8
8 PRECAUTIONS 9
9 APPLICATIONS 10
10 PICTURE GALLERY 11
11 BIBLIOGRAPHY 12
 INTRODUCTION
Cellulose:
Cellulose was discovered in 1838 by the French chemist
Anselm Payen , who isolated it from plant matter and
determined its chemical formula. Cellulose is an organic
compound with formula (C6H10 O5)n, the polysaccharide
consisting of linear chain o several hundred to many
thousands of beta-(1-4) linked D-glucose units . Wood has now
become a main source of cellulose. Since it contains only 40%
to 50% cellulose, substance must be extracted. The logs are
flaked, and then simmered in chemicals that dissolve in tarry
lignin, resins, and minerals the remaining pulp, about 93%
cellulose is dried and rolled into sheets as raw material for
paper , rayon and other products.

Rayon:
Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber, made from natural sources of
regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural
products. It has the same molecular structure as cellulose. It is
also called viscose. The fiber is used to make textiles for
clothing and other purposes. Rayon is produced by dissolving
cellulose, then converting this solution back to insoluble
fibrous cellulose. The most common methods for creating
rayon are the cuprammonium method, the viscose method,
and the lyocell process. The first two methods have been
practiced for more than a century.

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1 . Cuprammonium Process:
In this process cuprammonium rayon is obtained by
dissolving pieces of filter paper or cotton in a deep blue
solution containing tetra-ammine cupric hydroxide. The
latter is obtained from a solution of copper sulphate. To
it, sodium hydroxide solution is added to precipitate
cupric hydroxide, which is then dissolved in excess of
liquor ammonia. Filter paper is a quantitative paper used
for filtering and made of pure cellulose treated with
hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid. This filter paper is
used as a source for preparing rayon thread using
cuprammonium process.

2. Viscose Process:
In this process cellulose is soaked in 30% caustic soda
solution for about 3 hours. The alkali solution is then
removed, and the product is treated with caesium iodide.
This gives cellulose xanthates, which is dissolved in
sodium hydroxide solution to give a viscous solution. This
is filtered and forced through a spinneret into dilute
solution of sulphuric acid, both of which harden to form
gum like thread into rayon like fibers

2
 AIM
The main objective of the project is to prepare
rayon thread from cuprammonium process with
filter paper as a source of cellulose.

3
 APPARATUS

1. Beakers
2. Conical flask
3. Funnel
4. Filter papers
5. Glass rod
6. Copper sulphate [Cu(SO)4.5H2O]
7. Dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
8. Liquor ammonia
9. Dilute sulphuric acid(H2SO4)

4
 PRINCIPLE
Dilute sodium hydroxide solution is added to a solution of
copper sulphate solution to form a precipitate of copper
hydroxide. This precipitate is transferred into a beaker
containing liquor ammonia resulting in the formation of a
deep blue solution of cuprammonium hydroxide.
Dissolving filter paper in cuprammonium hydroxide
solution leave out a viscous solution called viscose.

REACTIONS INVOLVED:

CuSO4 + 2NaOH Cu(OH)2 + Na2SO4

Cu(OH)2+4NH4OH [Cu(NH3)4](OH)2+4H2O

5
 PROCEDURE
1. Weigh about 20.0 g of crystalline copper sulphate in a
clean watch glass. Dissolve it in 100ml of water taken in a
beaker.
2. Add dilute NaOH solution to this solution slowly with
stirring and note the separation of precipitate of copper
hydroxide [Cu(OH)2].
3. Filter the precipitate and transfer it to a beaker and add
50 ml of liquor ammonia.
4. The precipitate will dissolve resulting in a deep blue
solution of cuprammonium hydroxide (Schweitzer's
solution). This is the solvent for dissolving cellulose.
5. Take filter papers and cut it into pieces and add these
pieces to the cuprammonium solution taken in a conical
flask. Close the flask with rubber stopper and allow it to
stand for 3-4 days. In this time, filter paper completely
dissolve leaving a viscous solution called viscose.
6. The viscose solution is taken in a syringe. Then the nozzle
of the syringe is dipped in dilute sulphuric acid (H2SO4)
solution taken in a wide mouthed beaker. Squeeze out the
viscose into the acid solution and at the same time keep
on moving the nozzle in the acid. Filaments of rayon will
be formed in the beaker.
7. After some time, the blue color of the rayon filament
changes to white.

6
 OBSERVATION

1. Filaments of rayon is formed in the beaker

containing dilute sulphuric acid (H2SO4).
2. If the beaker is undisturbed for some time the
blue color of the thread is discharged and it
changes to white because sulphuric acid reacts
with the complex compound and washes out
the copper salts from the fibers.

7
 RESULT

1. Thus, we can successfully prepare rayon thread from

filter paper.
2. The cuprammonium method of producing rayon is a
convenient method to produce rayon threads.

8
 PRECAUTIONS
1. Addition of excess of liquor of ammonia should be
avoided.
2. Addition of liquor ammonia should be performed in a
fume cupboard with extra care otherwise the fumes if
inhaled cause heavy giddiness.
3. Before taking the viscose into the syringe, make sure that
it doesn't have any pieces of paper otherwise the bits of
paper tend to clog the needle of the syringe.
4. Prefer using a thick needle otherwise the fibers won't
come out with preferred thickness and quality

9
 APPLICATIONS
1. Rayon as a cloth is soft and comfortable. It drapes well,
which is one of the reasons it is so desirable as an
apparel fabric.
2. It is most absorbent of all cellulose fibers, even more
than cotton and linen. Because of this, rayon absorbs
perspiration and allow it to evaporate away from the
skin, making it excellent summer fabric.
3. Some rayon fabrics are used for filling in zippo lighters,
furnishings including bedspreads, blankets, window
covers and slipcovers.
4. Rayon is also used for industrial purposes such as
medical surgery products, non-woven items, tire cord
and some other uses.

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PICTURE GALLERY

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 BIBIOGRAPHY
https://www.scribd.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/
https://cbseportal.com/Projects/Download-CBSE-Class-XII-
Chemistry

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