Effect of hemicelluloses and lignin on the sorption and electric properties of hemp fibers

This study investigated the influence of hemicelluloses and lignin removal on the sorption and electric properties, as well as fineness of hemp fibers. Hemp fibers with different content of either hemicelluloses or lignin were obtained by chemical treatment with 17.5% sodium hydroxide or 0.7% sodium chlorite. The sorption properties of hemp fibers were evaluated as moisture and iodine sorption, while electric properties were evaluated as volume electric resistance. Hemicelluloses removal increases in higher extent fiber liberation than lignin removal; the modified hemp fibers were finer up to 12 times in relation to unmodified fibers. Furthermore, hemicelluloses removal increased the moisture and iodine sorption, as well as electric resistance of hemp fibers compared to unmodified fibers, while lignin removal decreased both moisture and iodine sorption, and only slightly increased the electric resistance of modified hemp fibers.