Some Properties of Native Hemp, Jute, and Kapok Celluloses

Abstract

The general chemical composition of untreated fibers of hemp, jute. and kapok has been studied, and the results have been compared to the composition of the corresponding α-celluloses and of the cellulose nitrates obtained by direct nitration of the original materials. After correction for nonglucose sugar residues, the data indicated the presence of approximately 80, 60, and 40% cellulose, respectively, in the native fibers. Unlike the hemp and jute, the kapok cellulose could not be nitrated to completion. No evidence was obtained for any association between α-cellulose and xylan in the jute. The average degree of polymerization of the nitrates was 4800 for the hemp, 4700 for the jute, and 3300 for the kapok cellulose, the first two values being the same as those found previously for native cotton and flax celluloses. The molecular weight distributions contained only one maximum and were symmetrical for hemp and jute. For kapok a curve with a slight right hand skewness was obtained. The results were compared to data obtained earlier for other bast and seed fibers.