CHEMICAL MODIFICATION AND SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF JUTE FIBER

Naturally weathered jute fibres and yarns were chemically modified usi ng various treatments. The effects of dewaxing with hot benzene, bleac hing with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and delignification by sodium hydroxide or potasium hydroxide treatments on the reflectance, fluorescence and tensile properties were studied. The brightness of jute is found to be improved most effectively with m inimum loss of tensile strength by bleaching with H2O2. The fluorescen ce of jute is ascribed primarily to the pigments, albeit present in lo w concentrations, and to the lignins. (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier S cience Limited