Vol. 7, Issue 3 (2019)
Fiber extraction from Calotropis gigantea stem with different retting methods and its comparision
Author(s): Reema Bora and Dr. T Padmini
Abstract: Since ages plants and animal products have been our major source of clothing. The use of natural fibers provides several advantages including low density, low cost, good specific mechanical properties, bio degradability. Currently, one of the major challenges in textile industries is the related environmental problem. The industry is facing great pressure to reduce pollutant emissions. This drives textile manufacturers to seek new approaches to produce environment friendly products. More and more attention has been drawn to agricultural products, wastes and derivatives, because of their renewability. Calotropis gigantea is a common weed in open waste lands, roadsides and railway lines, as well as village surroundings. It grows especially on littoral sandy soils and dry uncultivated land, with periodic dry periods. Considering this prospect a study was carried out to optimise the fiber extraction process with different retting methods like water retting, chemical retting (urea, sodium hydroxide) and enzyme extraction process. Among which chemical retting with sodium hydroxide method showed highest fibre yeld with 5.2%. It was found that Calotropis fiber was completely soluble in strong but partially soluble in NaOH and Na2CO3 solution and Calotropis fibers could withstand the solvents at room temperature. The fiber obtained by water retting method had longer fiber length though it decreased during scouring and bleaching process. Thickness, fineness and bundle strength of fiber extracted with enzyme treatment method was higher than the other methods. Raw fiber extracted by chemical retting with urea has the highest elongation though it has been decreased after scouring and bleaching. Moisture regains of Calotropis fiber after scouring and bleaching was higher than raw fiber and cotton fiber.
Pages: 144-150 | 939 Views 257 Downloads
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How to cite this article:
Reema Bora, Dr. T Padmini. Fiber extraction from Calotropis gigantea stem with different retting methods and its comparision. Int J Chem Stud 2019;7(3):144-150.
