GB353868A - Improvements in a process for retting fibres - Google Patents

Abstract

353,868. Retting flax &c. ROHM & HAAS CO., 222, West Washington Square, Philadelphia, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Hollander, C. S. ; 4025, Blakiston Street, Philadelphia, and Del Plaine, P. H. ; 270, Monroe Street, Bristol, both in Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) March 28, 1930, No. 9928. Convention date, May 17, 1929. [Class 120 (i).] In the retting of plant fibres such as flax, jute, ramie, sisal, hemp, &c., in which the cellulose fibre is surrounded by a cortex of ligneous material, the material is first boiled for 1-4 hours with chemicals capable of opening up the cortex and then, after washing, treated for 24-48 hours with selected and prepared enzymes which attack the cortex and lay bare the cellulose fibre without any appreciable action on the cellulose proper. As suitable chemicals one or more of the following may be used, alkaline liquids such as caustic soda, or potash, soda ash, calcium hydroxide, and soap solution, a buffer salt such as sodium phosphate, sodium borate, common salt or Glauber's salt being used to moderate the action of the alkaline liquid. Suitable enzymes are those obtained from cereals, such as malt, and those prepared by means of fungi such as aspergillus flavus, aspergillus oryzµ and other aspergillus, penicillium, mucor and rhizopus, and by means of such bacteria as bacillus subtilis, mesentericus group, and bacillus carotovovus. Unwanted bacterial growth may be prevented by the addition to the enzyme bath of a liquid such as toluene or chloroform. The pH value of the enzyme bath is maintained between 5 and 8 by the addition of such acids as acetic, sulphuric, &c., and Glauber's salt is used as activator.