After the finalization of alkali formulation to be used for extraction of cornhusk fibres, the fibres were treated with Pulpzyme HC to increase their fineness. Pulpzyme HC is a xylanase enzyme (EC.3.2.1.8) produced by submerged fermentation of a genetically modified Bacillus microorganism, and was obtained from Novozymes. The enzyme has an activity of 1000 AXU per gram. (http://fzfz.nbdl.gov.cn:81/files/20130815/1376527490502_36.pdf)
Effect of concentration of Pulpzyme HC and Treatment Time
The extracted fibres were treated with three different concentrations of enzyme i.e. 1%, 3%, 5% (owf).The time taken for treatment was 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes. The different experiments were carried out as per the following plan;
Pulpzyme HC:
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The sample was transferred to a 250 ml conical flask kept in water bath for alkali treatment. 75 ml of 17.5% caustic soda was measured using a measuring cylinder at 20°C. 15 ml of 17.5% NaOH was added and fibres were macerated gently with a flattened glass rod for 1 minute. 10 ml more NaOH was added and the solution was mixed for 45 seconds. 10 ml NaOH was again added and mixed for 15 seconds to make lump free slurry. The mixture was stirred and allowed to stand for 3 minutes. An additional 10 ml of caustic soda was poured in the beaker and stirred for 10 minutes to mix thoroughly. In between the stirring, remaining 30 ml of 17.5% caustic soda was added at 2.5, 5 and 7.5 minutes in installments of 10 ml each. This mixture was allowed to remain in the beaker for 30 minutes further, making the total treatment time of 45 minutes from the beginning. 100 ml of distilled water at 20˚C was added to the above mixture and mixed thoroughly. The diluted mixture was left for another 30 minutes in contact with caustic soda, making total treatment time of 75 …show more content…
Approximately 2 gm, nearest to 0.1 mg, oven dried cornhusk fibres, were weighed out accurately in weighing bottle and transferred to a 100 ml beaker. 40 ml of cold (10-15˚C) 72% sulphuric acid was added gradually to the fibres in small increments while stirring the mixture and macerating the fibres with a small glass rod. The beaker was kept in a bath at 2 ± 1˚C for dispersion of material. After the specimen was dispersed, beaker was covered with a watch glass and kept in a bath at 20 ± 1˚C for 2 hours. Mixture was stirred frequently to ensure complete