Extraction of Ramie Fiber in Alkali Hydrogen Peroxide System Supported by Controlled-release Alkali Source

Chaoran Meng; Zhaoling Li; Chaoyun Wang; Chongwen Yu; Xuerong Bi; Siyi Wang

doi:10.3791/56461

Method Article

Extraction of Ramie Fiber in Alkali Hydrogen Peroxide System Supported by Controlled-release Alkali Source

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DOI:

10.3791/56461

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February 6th, 2018

Chaoran Meng¹ , Zhaoling Li¹ , Chaoyun Wang² , Chongwen Yu¹^,² , Xuerong Bi¹ , Siyi Wang¹

¹College of Textiles, Donghua University, ²Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Summary

Presented here is a protocol for extraction of ramie fiber in alkali hydrogen peroxide system supported by controlled-release alkali source.

Abstract

This protocol demonstrates a method for ramie fiber extraction by scouring raw ramie in an alkali hydrogen peroxide system supported by a controlled-release alkali source. The fiber extracted from ramie is a type of textile material of great importance. In previous studies, ramie fiber was extracted in an alkali hydrogen peroxide system supported only by sodium hydroxide.However, due to the strong alkalinity of sodium hydroxide, the oxidation reaction speed of hydrogen peroxide was difficult to control and thus resulted in great damage to the treated fiber. In this protocol, a controlled-release alkali source, which is composed of sodium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, is used to provide an alkali condition and buffer the pH value of the alkali hydrogen peroxidesystem. The substitution rate of magnesium hydroxide can adjust the pH value of the hydrogen peroxide system and has great influence on the fiber properties. The pH value and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) value, which represents the oxidation ability of alkali hydrogen peroxide system, were monitored using a pH meter and ORP meter, respectively. The residual hydrogen peroxide content in the alkali hydrogen peroxide system during the extraction process and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) value of wastewater after fiber extraction are tested by KMnO₄ titration method. The yield of fiber is measured using a precision electronic balance, and residual gums of fiber are tested by a chemical analysis method. The polymerization degree (PD value) of fiber is tested by an intrinsic viscosity method using the Ubbelohde viscometer. The tensile property of fiber, including tenacity, elongation, and rupture, is measured using a fiber strength instrument. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to characterize the functional groups and crystal property of fiber. This protocol proves that the controlled-release alkali source can improve the properties of the fiber extracted in an alkali hydrogen peroxide system.

Introduction

Ramie, commonly known as 'China grass' is a perennial herb whose fiber can be used as an excellent material for the textile industry¹^,². It is one of the main economic crops native to China; the production of ramie in China has accounted for more than 90% of the total yield in the world¹^,². Ramie fiber is one of the strongest and longest plant fibers, lustrous with an almost silky appearance³^,⁴. The long length of ramie fiber make it suitable for single fiber spinning, which is seldom seen in b....