Upgradation of jute fibre by post-retting chemical treatment at never-dried stage

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;="" mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">A simple procedure for upgradation of jute fibre involving the application of some inexpensive chemicals, like diammonium phosphate (DAP), molasses and a non-ionic surfactant, at post-retting stage has been described. The chemicals were applied to the normal fibres as well as to those whose root ends had been discarded at pre-reuing and post-retting stages. Gradation of the fibres by commercial graders showed that discarding of the root ends at pre-retting stage improves the fibre quality by one grade (TD₆ to TD₅)<i>. </i>Application of chemicals effected further improvement in 70% of pre-cut fibres by two grades (TD₅ to TD₃). Similarly, 70% of the normal fibres showed improvement by two grades (TD₆ to TD₄). Rejection of roots at post-reuing stage degraded the fibre quality. In general, DAP-treated fibres showed remarkable improvement in colour but best results were obtained with DAP-molasses-surfactant combination. Chemical analyses of the control and chemically-treated fibres showed that the added chemicals serve as nutrients for the growth of residual microorganisms left on retted fibres which induce a secondary retting in the drying stage.</span>