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Preparation and properties of cotton stalk bark fibers using combined steam explosion and laccase treatment
Author(s) -
Hou Xiuliang,
Zhang Li,
Wizi Jakpa,
Liao Xiangru,
Ma Bomou,
Yang Yiqi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.45058
Subject(s) - laccase , steam explosion , materials science , fineness , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , stalk , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , horticulture , organic chemistry , engineering , biology , enzyme
Cotton stalk bark fibers (CSBF) were prepared using combined steam explosion and laccase treatment (explosion–laccase). CSBF have been applied to reinforce thermoplastic composites, but were difficult to be spun into yarns due to their inferior fineness and high stiffness. In order to improve the fineness and flexibility with a green method, explosion–laccase treatment was used to separate bark of cotton stalks. The results indicated that steam explosion at 1.7 MPa for 3 min effectively facilitated laccase penetration into the lignocellulose complex to enhance delignification without negative effects on activity of laccase. Compared with CSBF after explosion, CSBF after explosion–laccase had better fineness (31 dtex), higher aspect ratio (1110), higher tensile strength (2.81 cN/dtex), higher flexibility (321 twist/(m·dtex)), and better thermal stability, which meets the requirement of textile fibers. CSBF had higher water retention (127%) and moisture regain (10.3%) than cotton. Explosion–laccase is an effective and eco‐friendly method of preparing CSBF for textiles. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45058.