REMOVAL OF FIBER FROM VINES BY SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION ENZYMATIC DEGRADATION - A COMPARISON OF FLAX AND KUDZU RETTING

Kinetic data describing the decomposition of the outer sheath of kudzu vines (undergoing a solid fermentation process in a glass beaker of s oil) have been analyzed to determine the two constants, K(m)/S(o) and V/S(o), where S(o) is the initial substrate concentration, K(m) the Mi chaelis constant, and V the maximum product rate. The kinetic data are expressed by a simple time-varying desheathing index, obtained from t he number of spatula scrapings required to reach the desired hard cell ulosic fibers (vascular bundles) of the plant. A simple relationship b etween the desheathing index, D.I. and the dimensionless product conce ntration, P/S(o) is proposed to relate the D.I. data and enzyme kineti c concentration data. Thus, the Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetic parame ters can be estimated from easily obtained physical (non-chemical data ; the D.I.(t) measurements). This low energy process for processing vi nes into valuable fibers is similar to the traditional microbial metho d for recovering flax fibers for linen cloth, by retting of the flax p lant vines, except there is no unbound liquid water present in the soi l medium.