CHARACTERIZATION OF REFINED HEMP FIBERS USING NIR FT RAMAN MICRO SPECTROSCOPY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

• Main Authors: Siva Kumar Kovur, Karla C. Schenzel, Eckhard Grimm, Wulf Diepenbrock
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: North Carolina State University 2008-11-01
• Series: BioResources
• Subjects: Hemp fibers; Cellulose; Enzymatic treatments; NIR FT Raman Micro Spectroscopy; Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM)
• Online Access: http://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/viewFile/BioRes_03_4_1081_Kovur_SGC_Refined_Hemp_Fiber_Characterization/260

The research was focused on the separation of single hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibre cells with low fineness from mechanically extracted fibre bundles of high fineness. The fiber bundles were treated with enzymes, namely panzym, pectinase, hemicellulase, and cellulase, along with a combination of panzym and ultrasonic treatments. Changes in the fiber structure were followed at molecular and microscopic levels by means of NIR FT Raman spectroscopy and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM). Buffer-panzym treatments of hemp fibers had a prominent effect in loosening of the fiber cells. The best of refining was achieved when the fiber bundles were treated with buffer-panzym solution in combination with ultrasonic treatment.