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Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 2 Issue 4, October 2013

Study on Extraction of Bamboo Fibres from

Raw Bamboo Fibres Bundles Using Different
Retting Techniques
Varinder Kaur1, D P Chattopadhyay2, Satindar Kaur3
Department of Applied Chemical Sciences & Technology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Department of Textile Chemistry, Faculty of Technology & Engineering, The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara

Department of Food Sciences & technology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

varinder_gndu@yahoo.com; dpchat6@gmail.com
Abstract
Pure bamboo fibres have been extracted by using three
different retting techniques viz. Chemical assisted natural
(CAN), Acid and Alkali retting. CAN and acid retted fibre
bundles were further scoured using various concentrations
of sodium carbonate. As the primary concern of this study is
the end use of treated fibres for textile application, therefore,
lignin content, tensile strength, weight loss, moisture content,
whiteness and yellowness indices were measured. Lignin
content analysis of the fibre bundles obtained showed that
there was a remarkable reduction in lignin content after
CAN retting. Scanning Electronic microscopy of the retted
bamboo fibre bundles showed removal of short elementary
fibres from their surfaces in appropriate amount, which
further improved moisture content and overall physical
properties of retted and scoured bamboo fibres.
Keywords
Bamboo; Bamboo Fibre Bundles; Chemical Assisted Natural
Retting, (CAN); Lignin

Introduction
In textiles, market of bamboo clothing has suddenly
raised due to the facts that it is ecofriendly, 100%
biodegradable and can be completely decomposed in
soil by micro organisms. There are two ways to
process bamboo to make the plant into a fabric:
mechanically or chemically. The mechanical way is by
means of crushing the woody parts of the bamboo
plant and then natural enzymes are utilized to break
the bamboo walls into a mushy mass so that the
natural fibers can be mechanically combed out, spun
into yarn and then into fabric. Bamboo fabric made
from this process is sometimes called bamboo linen.
Chemically manufactured bamboo fiber is regenerated
cellulose fibre similar to rayon or modal. The bamboo
fiber which is the current eco-fashion range is

174

chemically manufactured by cooking the bamboo

leaves and woody shoots in strong chemical solvents
such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide in a
process known as hydrolysis alkalization combined
with multi-phase bleaching.
The invention of bamboo fiber is the biggest
contribution of mankind to protect naturally rare
minerals/resources and ultimately the environment as
a whole. The property that bamboo is highly
renewable grass has resulted in its ecofriendly feature,
which in turn leads to wide use in textile industry.
Repeated tests have proved that the bamboo fibre has
a strong durability, stability as well as tenacity. The
thinness and whiteness degree of fibre obtained from
bamboo has been found to be similar to that of viscose
staple fibre. Moreover, this fiber as natural cellulosic
fiber can achieve natural degradation in soil and can
be blended with other materials such as cotton, hemp,
lyocell, modal fibre and so on.
The bamboo has been used in agriculture, handicraft,
paper making, furniture and architecture for
thousands of years; however, only recently efforts
have been made to produce textile fibers from bamboo.
The worldwide research has been carried out on
bamboo to study the structure, properties of bamboo
fibre as well as extraction methods of bamboo fibre.
The quantitative analysis in chemical component of
bamboo fibre resulted in that after degumming
through a chemical treatment, the cellulose content in
bamboo fibre reached more than 70%, which is the
basic requirement of any fibre for its textile application.
The presence of lignin and hemicelluloses, on the
other hand, somehow, reduces its applicability in
textiles.
For better penetration of chemicals used in subsequent

Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 2 Issue 4, October 2013

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wet processing, fibre bundles separated from the culm

of bamboo, need to undergo a process called retting,
the most required stage for bast fibre extraction,
especially in flax, bamboo, jute etc. which is a
combined effect of temperature, moisture, bacteria or
fungi, resulting in the fibrillation of the fibre bundle
from gummy and cementing non-cellulosic substances
like hemicellulose, lignin and pectin which enclose the
cellulose.

treated with sodium carbonate 5-30 g/L, Lissapol-D 0.5

g/L and kept at 80oC for 45 minutes with fiber to liquor
ratio 1:20. The concentrations of sodium carbonate
were 5 g/L, 10 g/L, 15 g/L, 20 g/L and 30 g/L. At the
end of scouring treatment, the fibers were neutralized
with acetic acid and then thoroughly washed with
distilled water.

In this work, a possible bamboo retting system is

developed and properties of retted bamboo are also
discussed.

Breaking strength and breaking extension of bamboo

were tested using an Instron series IX fiber breaking
strength machine at a constant temperature of 27oC
and 65% relative humidity using ASTM Method D5035. Fiber weight loss was calculated using Eq. 1:

Material and Experiments

Raw Bamboo (Figure 1 a)
Raw bamboo harvested from Guru Nanak Dev
University, Amritsar, India, was retted and extracted
by following methods:
1)
1 B)

Chemical Assisted Natural Retting (CAN)(Fig.

First of all, nodes of raw bamboo (2-3 years old)

were detached and residual part was cleaved in
longitudinal direction to thin slabs with 15-20 cm in
length and 1.5-2 mm in thickness by the slicer.
Finally, they were converted manually into fibre
bundleswhich were then immersed in Zn(NO3)2
solution using material to liquor ratio 1:20 at 400C
at neutral pH for 116 hours in BOD Incubatorand
next boiled in water for one hour. The
concentrations of Zn(NO3)2 were 1%, 2% and 3%
(owf).
2)

Acid Retting (Figure 1 C)

The bamboo (2-3 years old) fibre bundles with the

same dimensions as mentioned above were soaked
in 1% HCl solution using material to liquor ratio
1:20 at room temperature for 45 minutes. Finally,
they were washed with fresh water and dried
under shadow.
3)

Alkaline Retting (Figure 1 D)

The bamboo (2-3 years old) fibre bundles with the

same dimensions as mentioned above were soaked
in 2gpl Na2CO3 and 0.5% Lissapol D solution using
material to liquor ratio 1:20 at 80oC for 45 minutes.
Finally, they were washed with fresh water and
dried under shadow.
Optimization of Na2CO3 Concentration for Scouring
The CAN, acid and alkaline retted bamboo fibers were

Testing

(1)
Where Wi is the initial weight of the raw bamboo fiber;
and Wf is the final weight of treated bamboo fiber.
Moisture Content (T264-om-88)
After retting, scouring and drying, the fibres were
weighed in a tared weighing bottleand then dried for 2
hour in a preheated oven at 105oC. After that, the
samples were cooled in desicator and then replaced
the stopper, followed by opening the stopper for a
moment to equalize the air pressure. The cooled
samples were weighed again and placed back to the
oven for I hour. The cooling and weighing of these
samples were repeated as above for successive hourly
periods until constant weight was achieved.
Moisture content (M %) of bamboo fibers was
calculated from equation (2) following as:
(2)
Wi: Initial weight of the fibers
Wf: Final weight of the fibers after drying
The colorimetric properties like whitness and
yellowness indices of the retted fibers (D65
illumination, 10o observer) were determined using a
Spectraflash 600 colorimeter (Datacolor International).
Scanning Electron Microscopy Observations
The deformation behavior of a single elementary
retted bamboo fibre bundle was investigated by meas
of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using Quorum
Q150RES (Supra 55- CARLZEISS) equipment.
Chemical Analysis
The chemical composition of the original bamboo
culm (without outmost layer) and retted bamboo fibre
bundles was analyzed for lignin contents by using
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Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 2 Issue 4, October 2013

TAPPI standard T250-um-85.

Results and Discussion
The 1% concentration of Zn(NO3)2 was selected in this
study due to the better whiteness index with
improved physical and mechanical properties of fibers
with 1% compared to other treated with 2% and 3%
(owf*) of Zn(NO3)2 (see Figure 2). Finally, they were
washed with fresh water and dried under shadow.
TABLE 1 PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO FIBRE
BUNDLE WITH RESPECT TO ZNNO3 CONCENTRATION

(*owf- on the weight of fibres)

Tenacity
(g/den)

Whiteness
Index
(Hunter lab)

Yellowness
Index
(Hunter lab)

Untreated

2.8568

17.63

47.51

ZnNO3 1%

1.8080

17.28

54.13

ZnNO3 2%

1.7287

14.37

53.87

ZnNO3 3%

1.7019

13.89

54.08

Concentration
of ZnNO3
(owf)*

than that of the chemical assisted natural retted fibres.

But physical fibre separation was achieved through
natural retting. On the other hand, the CAN retted
fibres using 1% Zn(NO3)2, produced reasonable
reduction in weight loss and tensile strength with
acceptable whiteness & yellowness indices.
TABLE 2 COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF NATURAL, ACID AND
ALKALI RETTED FIBRES.

(W.I.- Whiteness Index; Y.I.- Yellowness Index)

Type of
retting

Weight
loss
(%)

Moisture
content
(%)

W.I.

Y.I

% Loss
in
Tenacity

Untreate
d

6.63

17.63

47.51

CAN

5.0

11.01

17.28

54.13

36.72%

Acid

4.0

8.50

29.24

36.88

10.81%

Alkali

4.1

8.70

21.20

51.08

23.91%

FIGURE 2 a EFFECT OF CAN, ACID AND ALKALI RETTING ON

WEIGHT LOSS (%) & LOSS IN TENACITY (%) OF FIBRES

FIGURE 2 PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF

BAMBOO FIBRE BUNDLE WITH RESPECT TO ZNNO3
CONCENTRATION:

Figure 2a, 2b & 2c show the physical changes after

different treatments. The removal of non-cellulosic
matter by retting process enhanced the fibre
separation from the bulk. The process also improved
the capability of the fibres to absorb higher degree of
moisture. Acid retting process highly enhanced the
fibre appearance as seen from its whiteness index
value. The drop in tenacity of the fibre was also
comparatively low. Chemical assisted natural retting
caused the highest loss in weight also at the cost of
maximum loss in tenacity. The maximum loss in lignin
was caused by chemical assisted natural retting
process. Alkali retting gave an intermediate effect on
fibre appearance and strength of fibre. Moisture
content was determined as well. The results showed
that the difference of moisture content of the acid
treated and the alkali treated fibres was much lower
176

FIGURE 2 b EFFECT OF CAN, ACID AND ALKALI RETTING ON

WHITENESS & YELLOWNESS INDICES OF FIBRES

FIGURE 2 c EFFECT OF CAN, ACID AND ALKALI RETTING ON

LIGNIN CONTENT OF RETTED FIBRES

Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 2 Issue 4, October 2013

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1) Effect of Na2CO3 Concentration on Weight

Loss of Natural, Acid and Alkali Retted Bamboo
Fibres

(a)

(b)

Table 3.1 & Figure 3.1 show that the weight loss value
increased up to 10 g/L, but slightly decreased in
natural retting when the concentration of sodium
carbonate was between 20 g/L and 30 g/L, and highly
decrease in case of acid & alkaline retting. As
minimum loss in lignin was found in case of alkali
retting which is the clear indication of less removal of
non-cellulosic material and resulting in less weight
loss in comparision of CAN & acid retting.
TABLE 3.1 EFFECT ON WEIGHT LOSS OF CAN, ACID & ALKALI RETTED
BAMBOO FIBRES

(c)

(d)

FIGURE 1. SEM IMAGES FOR SIDE-VIEW SURFACES OF

BAMBOO FIBRE (a) RAW BAMBOO FIBRE,, (b) CAN RETTED
BAMBOO FIBRE, (c) ACID RETTED BAMBOO FIBRE, (d) ALKALI
RETTED BAMBOO FIBRE

Optimization of Na2CO3 Concentration

During scouring Na2CO3 solution easily penetrated
into fibres and so efficiently reducing noncellulosic
substances as it can softly break off the connectivity in
between noncellulosic and cellulosic components. In
order to obtain the optimum sodium carbonate
concentration for scouring, the pretreated (natural,
acid & alkali retted) bamboo fibres were treated with
different sodium carbonate concentration viz. 5 g/L, 10
g/L, 15 g/L, 20 g/L 30 g/L and the solution was made
with Lissapol D 0.5% (OWF), fibre to liquor ratio 1:20
and treated at 80oC for 45 minutes followed by
washing and finally dried in open. After the treatment,
the weight loss, moisture content, physical and
mechanical properties were tested to estimate the
effect of sodium carbonate concentration.
Scanning Electron Microscopy Observations
The surface properties of original & treated bamboo
fibres were examined by SEM. A large quantity of
gum & lignin in untreated bamboo can be observed.
As it can be seen in Figures 1a, 1b, 1c & 1d that the
natural bamboo fibre consists of numerous elementary
fibres. After natural retting, the number of elementary
fibres is decreasing, meaning that the technical
bamboo fibre is getting finer. Moreover, the inner
structure of bamboo fibre becomes looser after treated
with different retting techniques. As shown in all
figures, clear cracks can be observed for, thus,
produced natural bamboo fibre, indicating that the
fibre can be easily separated into small bundles.

Concentration of
Sodium
carbonate(gpL)
5
10
15
20
30

Weight Loss (%)

CAN
retted
Fibre
2.7
8.5
9.0
9.5
9.9

Acid retted
Fibres
3
5.6
7.5
7.9
8.3

Alkali
retted
fibres
2.1
2.3
3.0
3.5
5.2

FIGURE 3.1 EFFECT ON WEIGHT LOSS (%) OF CAN, ACID &

ALKALI RETTED BAMBOO FIBRES

2) Effect of Na2CO3 Concentration on Moisture

Content of Natural, Acid and Alkali Retted Bamboo
Fibres
TABLE 3.2 EFFECT ON MOISTURE CONTENT (%) OF CAN, ACID & ALKALI
RETTED BAMBOO FIBRES

Concentration of
Sodium Carbonate
(gpL)
5
10
15
20
30

Moisture content (%)

CAN
retted
fibres
6.2
7.14
7.84
8.1
8.3

Acid
retted
fibres
4.2
5.7
7.0
7.8
8.1

Alkali
retted
fibres
5.7
6.3
7.14
7.89
7.93

Moisture content plays an important role in

production of natural materials. The result presented
in Table 3.2 & Figure 3.2 revealed that extracted fibres

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Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 2 Issue 4, October 2013

from the acid and alkaline retting technique showed

overall lower moisture contents than natural retted
fibres. It also showed that the moisture content value
increased up to 15 g/L, but slightly decreased in
natural & acid retting when the concentration of
sodium carbonate was between 20 g/L and 30 g/L, and
highly decrease in case of alkaline retting.

carbonate and the results are shown in Figure 3.4.

From both the table and figure, it is clear that all three
processes of retting followed by treatment with
different concentrations of sodium carbonate have a
major drawback of yellowing in alkaline baths.

FIGURE 3.4 EFFECT ON YELLOWNESS INDEX OF CAN, ACID &

ALKALI RETTED BAMBOO FIBRES
FIGURE 3.2 EFFECT ON MOISTURE CONTENT (%) OF CAN,
ACID & ALKALI RETTED BAMBOO FIBRES

3) Effect of Na2CO3 Concentration on Whiteness

Index of Natural, Acid and Alkali Retted Bamboo
Fibres
The retted bamboo fibres were treated using various
concentrations of stock solution of sodium carbonate
viz. 5 g/L, 10 g/L, 15 g/L, 20 g/L, 30 g/L and in the
presence of Lissapol D 0.5% (owf), fibre to liquor ratio
1:20 and treated at 80oC for 45 minutes followed by
washing and finally dried in open. After that the
samples were tested for improvement in whiteness. It
is found (Figure 3.3) that with increase in
concentration of stock solution, the whiteness of the
sample was decreased up to 20 g/L. Further increment
showed a increasing effect on whiteness in case of
natural and alkaline retting, but a steep fall has been
observed in case of acid retting.

5) Effect of Na2CO3 Concentration on Tenacity of

Natural, Acid and Alkali Retted Bamboo Fibres
The average tenacity of natural bamboo fibres after
different treatments were illustrated in Figure 3.5.
With the increase in the treatment intensity, the values
of average tenacity initially decreased to 15 gpL,
leading to a reduction in tenacity due to removal of
non-cellulosic material. However, the concentration
higher than 15 gpL was found to be less effective.

FIGURE 3.5: TENACITY (G/DEN) OF CAN, ACID & ALKALI

RETTED BAMBOO FIBRES

Conclusions

FIGURE 3.3 EFFECT ON WHITENESS INDEX OF CAN, ACID &

ALKALI RETTED BAMBOO FIBRES

4) Effect of Na2CO3 Concentration on Yellowness

Index of Natural, Acid and Alkali Retted Bamboo
Fibres
The yellowness indices of treated samples were
measured at different concentrations of sodium

178

In this papr, three methods, CAN, acid and alkaline

retting, were used to extract bamboo fibres bundles
from raw bamboo fibre bundles along with the study
on the effect of different concentrations of sodium
carbonate on physical properties of fibres , among
which CAN retting technique has been found to be the
most effective pretreatment in wet processing of
bamboo fibres.
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