A green degumming process of ramie

Journal Article · 07 May 2018 · Industrial Crops and Products

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.04.045 · OSTI ID:1468051

Jiang, Wei ^[1]; Song, Yan ^[2]; Liu, Shaoyang ^[3]; Ben, Haoxi ^[4]; Zhang, Yuanming ^[4]; Zhou, Chengfeng ^[4]; Han, Guangting  ^[4]; Ragauskas, Arthur J.  ^[5]

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1. Qingdao University (China). Laboratory of New Fiber Materials and Modern Textile (The Growing Base for State Key Laboratory) and College of Textiles
2. Qingdao University (China). College of Textiles
3. Troy University, AL (United States). Department of Chemistry and Physics
4. Qingdao University (China). Laboratory of New Fiber Materials and Modern Textile (The Growing Base for State Key Laboratory)
5. Qingdao University (China). Laboratory of New Fiber Materials and Modern Textile (The Growing Base for State Key Laboratory); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Ramie provides the longest and strongest natural fiber in textile industry, but its traditional degumming process is costly and requires a large amount of alkali, which causes serious environmental concerns. In this study, a steam explosion (STEX) treatment followed by sodium percarbonate (SP) soak degumming process was investigated. Microstructure, chemical composition and mechanical properties of the refined ramie fibers were comprehensively characterized. The residual gum content was below 5%, the fineness was higher than 1600 Nm (6.25 dtex), the breaking tenacity was 5.4 cN/dex, and the whiteness was above 50%. All of the properties met the requirements of Chinese national standard, and the breaking tenacity and whiteness were notably better than those of the fibers degummed traditionally. Additionally, environmental impacts of the new degumming process were evaluated. Only 50% chemicals were needed for the new process, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the waste reduced to 35% of the traditional method. Therefore, the new method was more environment-friendly and economically feasible. It has great potential for industry applications.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1468051
• Journal Information: Industrial Crops and Products, Journal Name: Industrial Crops and Products Journal Issue: C Vol. 120; ISSN 0926-6690
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Degumming
Ramie
Sodium percarbonates
Steam explosion