Chemical and Biological Retting of Kenaf Fibers

Kyung Hun Song,; Obendorf, S Kay

Chemical and Biological Retting of Kenaf Fibers

2006

Kyung Hun Song, | Obendorf, S Kay

The physical and chemical characteristics of fibers after biological, chemical, and enzymatic retting were studied for kenaf cultivated in Jeju, Korea. Retting removes non-fibrous materials leaving separated fibers. Quantitative chemical analyses of kenaf fibers after retting were conducted using gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC— MS). Before retting, the syringyl lignin content was 16 mg/g and guaiacyl lignin content was 2.9 mg/g. The syringyl content was reduced by all three retting treatments: bio-retting, chemical retting with NaOH and enzymatic retting with pectinase. Treatment with 3% pectinase decreased the syringyl lignin content to almost one-half that observed in the unretted kenaf and also decreased the guaiacyl lignin content. The ratio of syringyl type lignin/guaiacyl type lignin ranged from 5.8 down to 2.4. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry also demonstrated the reduction in non-cellulose content. Viscosity measurements show that the retting processes did not degrade the cellulose polymers of the kenaf fibers.

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