Degumming Effect of Different Retting Methods for Fresh Samples of Kenaf and Jute Whole Plant

To examine the impact of in situ water maceration in macerating ponds on the degumming process and fiber quality of freshly kenaf and jute whole plants. Different kenaf/jute fresh samples (whole plant, bast fresh hides) were subjected to distinct maceration treatments: padded film + cover film, cover film only, and no film. Water temperature, degumming bacterial colony counts, and fiber quality were assessed. Results revealed that composting pools with padded film + cover film maintained the highest water temperature. For colony count, padded film + cover film treatment displayed the highest colony count for kenaf, and no film treatment had the highest for jute. Kenaf whole fresh rods treated with padded film + cover film and cover film alone demonstrated the highest fiber strengths at 489.01 N and 494.85 N, respectively. Jute whole fresh rods macerated in padded film + cover film achieved the greatest strength at 392.32 N. Comparisons of fresh fiber strength between whole fresh rod and bastshowed a maximum difference of 150.69 N (kenaf) and 152.88 N (jute). Comprehensive analysis concluded, that the most effective degumming method involved using the whole fresh rods of red hemp/jute in maceration ponds equipped with padded film + cover film.