Thesis
Environmentally friendly industrial hemp processing for high quality fibers
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2018
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100757
Abstract
This study investigated the use of chemicals, enzyme, microorganisms, and a combination of microorganism and chemicals as agents for extraction of industrial hemp fibers for broad textile and apparel applications. Hemp from plants grown in Washington State were the focus of this research with a Canada hemp being utilized for comparison purpose. The goal was to explore environmentally friendly methods for the removal of non-cellulosic components (i.e. hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin) from hemp fiber by reducing the consumption of caustic chemicals that cause harm to the environment. Additionally, morphological and physical properties of Washington grown hemp were benchmarked, as a new growing region for the crop. The effect of these agents on the physical, mechanical, and molecular properties of hemp fibers was examined by scanning-electron microscopy, fiber weight loss, tensile strength and elongation, thermogravimetric analysis and derivative thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that chemical treatment was the most effective and efficient degumming method, removing the most amount of residual gummy materials from the fibers' surface as seen in scanning-electron micrographs. Chemically treated fibers also showed separation of the individual fibers from the fiber bundles. The enzyme and microorganism treated fibers all showed similar results for morphological, mechanical, thermal, and molecular properties, and had low efficacy for removal of the non-cellulosic constituents. Additionally, none of these treated fibers showed separation of individual fibers from fiber bundles. The combined microorganism and chemical treatment had greater efficacy for removal of non-cellulosic constituents compared to the enzyme and single microorganism treatments. However the combination treatment was not as effective as the chemically treated fibers and also did not show separation of fiber bundles.
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Details
- Title
- Environmentally friendly industrial hemp processing for high quality fibers
- Creators
- Kaitlyn Jo Engle
- Contributors
- Hang Liu (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525032601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis