Enzymatic upgradation of under-retted never-dried and dried jute fibres

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"="">Upgradation of barky and coarse jute fibres by Pectinex Ultra spL has been found to be better when the treatment is done in the freshly retted undried (never-dried) state. The enzyme preparation releases higher amount of reducing sugars and uronic acid from barky never-dried jute fibres than from air-dried ones. Drying of the coarse fibres by heat renders the enzymatic upgradation process difficult. The observed effect may be partially due to higher accessibility of the enzymes to the pectins and hemicelluloses of the barky fibrous tissues in the never-dried state. Microscopy revealed that in most instances, the residual gummy matter and the cells of the under-retted tissue, particularly remnants of non-fibrous tissues adhering to the coarse fibres undergo shrinkage and darkening during drying which cannot be totally reversed on rewetting.</span>