Lecture - 33 A general account of Fibers – Jute, Cotton, Flax, Hemp
A general account of Fibers – Jute, Cotton, Flax, Hemp:- Plant fibres are a type of natural fibres as they are obtained naturally and directly from the different sources of plants and their products. These fibre yielding crops are very high in their length, width, tenacity, uniformity, spinning pliability and flexibility. The different sources of plant fibres are- cotton, jute, coir, hemp and flax.
1. Jute:-
Botanical Name:- Corchorus capsularis, C. olitorius.
Family:- Tiliaceae.
Economic Botany:-
> It is a chief fibre-yielding annual shrub.
> Fibres are obtained from the stem of two species, i.e., C. capsularis and C. olitorius.
> It is a bast fibre, obtained from the secondary phloem by the process of retting.
> Jute is cultivated in West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Bihar and U.P.
> Jute fibre is used in making carpets, coarse material, twine, gunny bags, paper and many similar articles.
> Jute forms the base of linoleum and wool carpet industry.
> High quality grease-proof paper is prepared from the fibres of jute sticks. It is used commonly is confectionery industry for wrapping greasy materials.
> Dried leaves of C. capsularis are also used as a remedy for dysentry.
> Besides India, Bangladesh is also a chief jute- producing country of the world.
2. Cotton:-
Botanical Names:- Gossypium sp. (G. arboreum, G. barbadense, G. berbaceum and G. hirsutum).
Family:- Malvaceae.
Economic Botany:-
> It is the chief fibre plant which supplies more than 70% of the world consumption of fibres.
> Fibres occur on the seeds in the form of flattened, twisted and tubular hairs.
> Raw cotton consists of cellulose (94%), protein (1.3%), pectic substances (0.9% to 1.2%), water (0.6%), sugar (0.3%) and some pigment traces.
> Chief use of the cotton is in the textile industry. Other uses include stuffing of pillows, cushions, and also in rubber tyre fabrics.
> Short fibres, called linters or fuzz, are used for superior acetates and viscose rayons, cellulose ethers and esters, and nitrocellulose lacquers.
> Hull, the outer covering of cotton seeds, is used for cattle feeding, fertilizers, fillers in plastics, and manufacture of insulating materials.
> A most important semidrying oil (cotton seed oil) is obtained from the seeds of cotton. It is used as a cooking oil. Other uses of this oil include in the preparation of soaps, paints and varnishes, washing powders, artificial leather, glycerine, nitroglycerin, etc.
> Seed cake is used as fertilizer and as cattle feed.
> Gossypium roots are used in some fevers.
> Its seeds are used in diseases like gonorrhoea, catarrh and gleet.
> Leaf juice of G. berbaceum is used in scorpion and snake bites.
> Cotton fibre is also used in paper industry, specially in preparing fine quality paper.
3. Flax:-
Botanical Name:- Linum usitatissimum
Family:- Linaceae
Economic Botany:-
i. Fiber Use (Linen):-
> The bast fibers from the stem are used to produce linen, one of the oldest known textile fibers.
> Linen is used in Clothing, Home textiles (curtains, tablecloths) and Canvas, ropes, and twines.
ii. Seed/Oil Use (Linseed):-
> Seeds are known as linseeds, used to extract linseed oil.
> Linseed oil is used in Paints, varnishes, Printing inks, Soaps and cosmetics.
> Linseed is also used as animal feed and in human nutrition due to high omega-3 fatty acid content.
4. Hemp:-
Botanical Name:- Cannabis sativa (industrial type)
Family:- Cannabaceae
Economic Botany:-
i. Fiber:- Stem fibers are used for:
> Ropes, sacks, coarse textiles, canvas
> Bioplastics, composites, and construction materials (hempcrete)
> Paper production
ii. Seeds (Hempseed):-
> Edible seeds rich in protein and healthy fats
> Used in Health foods, Oil extraction (for nutrition and cosmetics), Animal feed.
iii. Other Uses:-
> Hemp oil (from seeds) is used in Skin care, paints, and cooking.
CBD extraction (from flowers/leaves):- Used medicinally, though typically from special varieties.
Environmentally beneficial:- Grows fast, suppresses weeds, and improves soil.
