Accelerated Retting of Jute for Economic Fibre Yield

Jute fibres are separated from non-fibrous tissues and woody part of the stem by dissolution and decomposition of pectins and gums by a process called retting. Retting employs the joint action of microbes and moisture to dissolve the cellular tissues and pectin surrounding the bast fibre bundle. The huge amount of clear water requirement and environmental hazards caused by chemicals and microbes presents the major disadvantage of retting. Moreover retting is time consuming and costly.

An experiment conducted at National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fibre Technology (NIRJAFT), Kolkata, showed that chemical retting of jute was completed within one week using a cheap chemical accelerator without causing any major environmental pollution.